Darcy Ummels

14 | Chapter 1  What is the validity of the developed activity tracker in older adults with or without a chronic disease during activities of daily living?  How do older adults with or without a chronic disease experience the adapted activity tracker during their daily lives? Using the knowledge generated during Phase One and Phase Two, the developed activity tracker was integrated into the workflow of healthcare professionals in Phase Three (Chapter 6). Phase Three addressed the following research question:  How can an activity tracker be integrated into the daily clinical practice of healthcare professionals? Chapter Two analyses the validity of the step count in nine commercially available activity trackers used during the daily activities of (older) adults with a chronic disease. Chapter Three examines how (older) adults with a chronic disease experience the incorporation of activity trackers into their regular physiotherapy sessions. Chapter Four assesses the validity of an adapted algorithm used by older adults with or without a chronic disease during activities of daily living. Chapter Five describes the user centred development of an activity tracker for (older) adults with or without a chronic disease and the feasibility test of the developed activity tracker. In Chapter Six, the developed activity tracker will be integrated into the daily clinical practice of healthcare professionals. Chapter Seven summarises the primary findings of this dissertation, discusses the methodology, and outlines implications for future research, practice, and education. This dissertation was part of the Brightlands Innovation Programme Limburg Meet (LIME), 79 a programme that facilitates the development of smarter measurement methods and more efficient data collection for better care and health. LIME also facilitates and supervises projects that develop innovative measuring products or processes. Within the LIME program, several themes were distinguished. One of these themes is ‘personalised wearables,’ of which this PhD project was a part. The goal of this theme was to help new wearables fulfil their potential, produce more personalised care, and achieve a higher level of self ‐ reliance for clients and citizens by playing an active role in the further development and implementation of wearables in healthcare.