Co-Creating a Digital Resource to Support Smartwatch Use in COPD Self-Management: An Inclusive and Pragmatic Participatory Approach

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver

Wearable technologies, including smartwatches, are increasingly used by people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) for health monitoring and self-management, yet everyday guidance for patients and practitioners remains limited. This study co-created a digital resource (a website and video) with people with COPD, carers, and healthcare practitioners using a participatory co-creation framework, including workshops and think-aloud interviews. Twenty-one participants identified needs around features, interpreting data, and personalized goals, and the resource was well received for practical, lived-experience support.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

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1. Introduction

Article Co-Creating a Digital Resource to Support Smartwatch Use in COPD Self-Management: An Inclusive and Pragmatic Participatory Approach Laura J. Wilde 1,2, *, Louise Sewell 3 and Nikki Holliday 1 Academic Editors: Eleni A. Kortianou and Garyfallia K. Pepera Received: 28 November 2025 Revised: 15 December 2025 Accepted: 19 December 2025 Published: 23 December 2025 Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license. 1 Centre for Healthcare and Communities, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5RW, UK; [nikki.holliday@coventry.ac.uk](nikki.holliday@coventry.ac.uk) 2 School of Life Course & Population Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK 3 School of Health and Care, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5RW, UK; [louise.sewell@coventry.ac.uk](louise.sewell@coventry.ac.uk) * Correspondence: [laura.wilde@kcl.ac.uk](laura.wilde@kcl.ac.uk) Highlights What are the main findings? • A co-created digital resource (website and video) was developed with people with COPD, carers, and healthcare practitioners to support smartwatch use for COPD self-management. • Participants identified key needs, including understanding smartwatch features, interpreting health data, and accessing relatable, practical guidance. What are the implications of the main findings? • The resource offers tailored support for both patients and practitioners, with potential to enhance everyday use of wearable technologies in COPD care. • The innovative, rigorous, and inclusive co-creation process ensured the resource was relevant, acceptable, and grounded in lived experience. Abstract Wearable technologies, such as smartwatches, are increasingly used by people with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) for health monitoring and self-management. However, there is limited evidence-informed guidance available to help patients and healthcare practitioners use these tools effectively in everyday life. Objectives: This study aimed to co-create a digital resource for people with COPD and healthcare practitioners to support the use of smartwatches for self-management. Methods: A participatory co-creation methodology was used, based on the Three Co’s Framework (co-define, co-design, corefine) . Participants included people with COPD, carers, family, or friends of people with COPD; healthcare practitioners; and researchers who attended workshops and individual think-aloud interviews to develop a website and video resource. The resource was refined based on real-time feedback. Data were analysed using rapid qualitative analysis. Results: Twenty-one participants engaged and identified key informational needs, including understanding smartwatch features, interpreting health data, and setting personalised goals. The co-created website and video resource were positively received. Participants valued the inclusion of real-life experiences and practical guidance tailored to both patients and healthcare practitioners. Conclusions: This study presents the first co-created resource for COPD and healthcare practitioners on using smartwatches. The co-creation process was successfully delivered online and face-to-face, demonstrating a robust, inclusive approach to managing multiple stakeholders. The resource offers practical value for patients and practitioners and contributes to the growing field of remote interventions for chronic respiratory conditions. Future research is needed to evaluate its effectiveness. Keywords: smartwatches; co-creation; digital health; respiratory disease; self-management 1. Introduction Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory condition affecting over 300 million people globally and is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide [1] . In the UK, COPD contributes to over one mil

FAQs

What was the main purpose of the study?

To co-create a digital resource that helps people with COPD and healthcare practitioners use smartwatches for effective self-management in everyday life.

How was the digital resource developed?

Through a participatory co-creation approach using workshops and individual think-aloud interviews, then refining the website and video based on real-time feedback.

What key informational needs did participants identify?

Participants emphasized understanding smartwatch features, interpreting health data, and setting personalized goals.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver