ESR8 - Natalie Tham An Qi

ESR photo
Natalie Tham An Qi
Research project
"Application of behavioural change theory to the design, development, and implementation of camera systems to support home-based multiple chronic disease (multimorbidity) self-management."
About the project

Technological advances in camera-based monitoring systems have made it increasingly possible to support the care of older adults living with chronic conditions from their own homes. In particular, video- and camera-based medical monitoring systems (VCMMS) may facilitate the home-based self-management of multiple diseases (i.e., multimorbidity). Though technically feasible, the privacy and ethical implications of VCMMS are poorly understood, which may hinder the eventual uptake of such systems among the techno-pessimistic elderly. To this end, behaviour change theory and the use of Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) provide a promising framework against which the barriers to and facilitators of VCMMS adoption may be understood. Such an understanding will inform the development of acceptable and effective VCMMS for home-based multimorbidity care.

Envisaged outcomes will seek to advance the understanding of which behavioural targets, functions, and techniques (as per the BCW) should be optimally targeted in the future design, development, and implementation of VCMMS within the home environment to support multimorbidity self-management. Additionally, this research will attempt to delineate the most appropriate behaviour change strategies to address end-users’ privacy and ethical concerns for VCMMS use within the home.

Start date: June 2021

Expected end date: May 2024

Progress of the project

To date, ESR8 has completed a scoping review of the barriers and facilitators to older adults' acceptance of camera-based AAL technologies at home. From the scoping review emerged particularly interesting barriers to accpetance, which were then investigated as changeable targets for behaviour change. Specifically, in a subsequent questionnaire-based study, ESR8 examined the influence of the psychological construct "future self-continuity" on older adults' acceptance of camera-based AAL technologies. The results of the questionnaire study have been drawn upon to design a subsequent experimental study, which will endeavour to enhance older adults' future self-continuity with a view to improving their acceptance of camera-based AAL technologies. The study design is currently under development.

About the ESR

Natalie holds a BSc in Psychology (2019) and an MSc in Applied Psychology and Economic Behaviour (2020), both from the University of Bath, UK. Her undergraduate and Master’s thesis examined behaviour change in the contexts of plant-based consumption and wilful ignorance, where comprehensive behavioural analyses were implemented to gain a deeper understanding of how best to facilitate the desired behaviour change.

Contact information

Natalie Tham

Trinity College Dublin

Trinity Centre for Practice & Healthcare Innovation (TCPHI)
School of Nursing and Midwifery
24 D’Olier Street
Dublin, Ireland

Email address: ntham@tcd.ie