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Tech2Heal

Description

Tech2Heal is a three-year EU-funded Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) project addressing a shared Nordic challenge: increasing sickness absence, burnout, and early retirement among workers—particularly in health and care professions.

The project explores how digital solutions and wearable technologies can support physical and mental health, strengthen resilience, and promote a more sustainable working life in remote and rural regions.

International Partnership

The project is coordinated by Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in Ireland and implemented in partnership with:

  • University of Oulu and Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) – Finland
  • Region Västerbotten (Centre for Rural Medicine) – Sweden
  • Norwegian Centre for eHealth Research (NSE), University Hospital of North Norway – Norway

Norway and Ireland play key roles in pilot projects targeting healthcare workers.

Norway–Ireland Collaboration: Focus on Healthcare Workers

In both Norway (Bodø Municipality) and Ireland (Donegal), Tech2Heal focuses on nurses and other municipal healthcare workers, who often experience high workloads and emotional strain.

  • ATU (Ireland) leads project coordination and the development of wearable health technology (e.g., Oura Ring or wristband).
  • NSE (Norway) leads evaluation and ethics, and develops indicators for health, well-being, and work ability.

The two countries jointly design and test an intervention consisting of:

  1. Training in health literacy and stress management, and
  2. Use of wearable technology for monitoring sleep, activity, heart rate, and stress—combined with a digital diary.

The goal is to enhance healthcare workers’ self-awareness, support mental health, and generate insights that can inform improved working conditions and personnel policies.

Goals

  • Understand the causes of work-related stress, sickness absence, and early retirement.
  • Develop and test technology-supported solutions for preventive health care.
  • Contribute to policy change in occupational health and workforce sustainability through evidence-based findings.
  • Promote health literacy and self-management among employees in demanding professions.

Method

  • Method: Mixed-methods design (quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews, and sensor data).
  • Evaluation instruments: System Usability Scale (SUS), EQ-5D, WRQoL, WHO-5, and PSS.
  • Target groups: Nurses, healthcare personnel, and public sector employers.

Conclusion

Expected Outcomes

  • Evidence-based insights into health challenges in demanding professions.
  • Validated technological tools supporting everyday work and well-being.
  • Improved health literacy and resilience among employees.
  • Policy recommendations for occupational health and burnout prevention.
  • New models for cross-national collaboration in digital health and work-life research.