Implementing an inclusive digital health ecosystem for healthy aging: A case study on project SingaporeWALK

Edmund Wei Jian Lee; Huanyu Bao; Navrag B. Singh; Sai G.S. Pai; Ben Tan Phat Pham; Siva Subramaniam Sowmiya Meena; Yin-Leng Theng

doi:10.1093/jamiaopen/ooae148

Implementing an inclusive digital health ecosystem for healthy aging: A case study on project SingaporeWALK

Edmund Wei Jian Lee^*, Huanyu Bao, Navrag B. Singh, Sai G.S. Pai, Ben Tan Phat Pham, Siva Subramaniam Sowmiya Meena, Yin-Leng Theng

^*Corresponding author for this work

Department of Media and Communication

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

39 Downloads (CityUHK Scholars)

Abstract

Objective: To pilot a digital health technologies ecosystem known as project SingaporeWALK (Wearables and Apps for Community Living and Knowledge) that build capacity in older adults, senior center managers, health coaches, and caregivers in using health technologies (eg, wearables, apps, exergames) collaboratively in a gamified way for active aging.

Materials and Methods: The SingaporeWALK ecosystem was set up through 3 initiatives: (1) co-developing technologies with stakeholders; (2) raising digital literacy and capacity building; and (3) cultivating community and intergenerational bonding for active aging through gamified technology use.

Results: Significant improvements in older adults' self-reported physical and mental health post-intervention were observed.

Discussion: The SingaporeWALK project demonstrated that digital health technologies, when designed with inclusivity and community engagement, could significantly empower active aging.

Conclusion: This project underscored the necessity of a collective and community-centered approach to maximize the efficacy of digital health technologies to support older adults in active aging globally.

Original language	English
Article number	ooae148
Journal	JAMIA Open
Volume	8
Issue number	1
Online published	31 Dec 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/jamiaopen/ooae148
Publication status	Published - Feb 2025

Funding

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation (NRF), Singapore, under its Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE) programme and through the Intra-CREATE Seed Collaboration Grant (NRF2021-ITS009-0012). Open Access made possible with partial support from the Open Access Publishing Fund of the City University of Hong Kong.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Research Keywords

digital technologies
implementation science
mobile apps
older adults
wearables

Publisher's Copyright Statement

This full text is made available under CC-BY-NC 4.0. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Access Output

10.1093/jamiaopen/ooae148

268943364.pdfFinal Published version, 825 KBLicence: CC BY-NC

Other Access Options

Check CityUHK Library

Permanent Link

Right click to copy link

Cite this

@article{b36c09c39d504898b63f839218a51787,

title = "Implementing an inclusive digital health ecosystem for healthy aging: A case study on project SingaporeWALK",

abstract = "Objective: To pilot a digital health technologies ecosystem known as project SingaporeWALK (Wearables and Apps for Community Living and Knowledge) that build capacity in older adults, senior center managers, health coaches, and caregivers in using health technologies (eg, wearables, apps, exergames) collaboratively in a gamified way for active aging. Materials and Methods: The SingaporeWALK ecosystem was set up through 3 initiatives: (1) co-developing technologies with stakeholders; (2) raising digital literacy and capacity building; and (3) cultivating community and intergenerational bonding for active aging through gamified technology use. Results: Significant improvements in older adults' self-reported physical and mental health post-intervention were observed. Discussion: The SingaporeWALK project demonstrated that digital health technologies, when designed with inclusivity and community engagement, could significantly empower active aging. Conclusion: This project underscored the necessity of a collective and community-centered approach to maximize the efficacy of digital health technologies to support older adults in active aging globally. {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Medical Informatics Association. ",

keywords = "digital technologies, implementation science, mobile apps, older adults, wearables",

author = "Lee, {Edmund Wei Jian} and Huanyu Bao and Singh, {Navrag B.} and Pai, {Sai G.S.} and Pham, {Ben Tan Phat} and Meena, {Siva Subramaniam Sowmiya} and Yin-Leng Theng",

year = "2025",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1093/jamiaopen/ooae148",

language = "English",

volume = "8",

journal = "JAMIA Open",

issn = "2574-2531",

publisher = "Oxford University Press",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Implementing an inclusive digital health ecosystem for healthy aging

T2 - A case study on project SingaporeWALK

AU - Lee, Edmund Wei Jian

AU - Bao, Huanyu

AU - Singh, Navrag B.

AU - Pai, Sai G.S.

AU - Pham, Ben Tan Phat

AU - Meena, Siva Subramaniam Sowmiya

AU - Theng, Yin-Leng

PY - 2025/2

Y1 - 2025/2

N2 - Objective: To pilot a digital health technologies ecosystem known as project SingaporeWALK (Wearables and Apps for Community Living and Knowledge) that build capacity in older adults, senior center managers, health coaches, and caregivers in using health technologies (eg, wearables, apps, exergames) collaboratively in a gamified way for active aging. Materials and Methods: The SingaporeWALK ecosystem was set up through 3 initiatives: (1) co-developing technologies with stakeholders; (2) raising digital literacy and capacity building; and (3) cultivating community and intergenerational bonding for active aging through gamified technology use. Results: Significant improvements in older adults' self-reported physical and mental health post-intervention were observed. Discussion: The SingaporeWALK project demonstrated that digital health technologies, when designed with inclusivity and community engagement, could significantly empower active aging. Conclusion: This project underscored the necessity of a collective and community-centered approach to maximize the efficacy of digital health technologies to support older adults in active aging globally. © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Medical Informatics Association.

AB - Objective: To pilot a digital health technologies ecosystem known as project SingaporeWALK (Wearables and Apps for Community Living and Knowledge) that build capacity in older adults, senior center managers, health coaches, and caregivers in using health technologies (eg, wearables, apps, exergames) collaboratively in a gamified way for active aging. Materials and Methods: The SingaporeWALK ecosystem was set up through 3 initiatives: (1) co-developing technologies with stakeholders; (2) raising digital literacy and capacity building; and (3) cultivating community and intergenerational bonding for active aging through gamified technology use. Results: Significant improvements in older adults' self-reported physical and mental health post-intervention were observed. Discussion: The SingaporeWALK project demonstrated that digital health technologies, when designed with inclusivity and community engagement, could significantly empower active aging. Conclusion: This project underscored the necessity of a collective and community-centered approach to maximize the efficacy of digital health technologies to support older adults in active aging globally. © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Medical Informatics Association.

KW - digital technologies

KW - implementation science

KW - mobile apps

KW - older adults

KW - wearables

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85215857682&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/pubmetrics.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85215857682&origin=recordpage

U2 - 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooae148

DO - 10.1093/jamiaopen/ooae148

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

C2 - 39742291

SN - 2574-2531

VL - 8

JO - JAMIA Open

JF - JAMIA Open

IS - 1

M1 - ooae148

ER -

Implementing an inclusive digital health ecosystem for healthy aging: A case study on project SingaporeWALK

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

Publisher's Copyright Statement

Access Output

Other Access Options

Permanent Link

Other Files and Links

Fingerprint

Cite this