Implementation of a digital behavior change intervention (eCHANGE) for weight loss maintenance support: a service design and technology transfer approach

R A Asbjørnsen; J Hjelmesæth; M L Smedsrød; J Wentzel; M M Clark; S M Kelders; J E W C van Gemert-Pijnen; L Solberg Nes

doi:10.3389/fdgth.2024.1394599

Implementation of a digital behavior change intervention (eCHANGE) for weight loss maintenance support: a service design and technology transfer approach

Front Digit Health. 2024 Jul 2:6:1394599. doi: 10.3389/fdgth.2024.1394599. eCollection 2024.

Authors

R A Asbjørnsen^{1

2

3}, J Hjelmesæth^{4

5}, M L Smedsrød⁶, J Wentzel⁷, M M Clark⁸, S M Kelders¹, J E W C van Gemert-Pijnen¹, L Solberg Nes^{3

5

8}

Affiliations

¹ Centre for eHealth and Wellbeing Research, Section of Psychology, Health & Technology, Department of Technology, Human and Institutional Behaviour, Faculty of Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands.
² Research and Innovation Department, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.
³ Department of Digital Health Research, Division of Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
⁴ Department of Endocrinology, Obesity and Nutrition, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway.
⁵ Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
⁶ Collaborative Care Unit, Sørlandet Hospital Trust, Kristiansand, Norway.
⁷ Research Group IT Innovations in Health Care, Windesheim University of Applied Sciences, Zwolle, Netherlands.
⁸ Department of Psychiatry & Psychology, College of Medicine & Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States.

Abstract

Obesity is a chronic disease, and while weight loss is achievable, long-term weight loss maintenance is difficult and relapse common for people living with obesity. Aiming to meet the need for innovative approaches, digital behavior change interventions show promise in supporting health behavior change to maintain weight after initial weight loss. Implementation of such interventions should however be part of the design and development processes from project initiation to facilitate uptake and impact. Based on the development and implementation process of eCHANGE, an evidence-informed application-based self-management intervention for weight loss maintenance, this manuscript provides suggestions and guidance into; (1) How a service design approach can be used from initiation to implementation of digital interventions, and (2) How a technology transfer process can accelerate implementation of research-based innovation from idea to market.

Keywords: digital behavior change intervention; eHealth; implementation; innovation; obesity; service design; technology transfer; weight loss maintenance.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.