Implementation and evaluation of digital wellbeing intervention in North Karelia (HETKI2)

The key well-being challenges in North Karelia are related to the accumulation of unhealthy lifestyles and related chronic diseases. Digital intervention to promote well-being could be cost–effective and scalable measures to promote healthy lifestyles and well-being in North Karelia, where long distances and the accessibility of social and health care services are also a challenge. However, more research is needed on the effectiveness of digital well-being services from the perspective of human well-being and the factors promoting their implementation from the employees’ point of view.

The goal is to recruit a total of 300 working–age people from North Karelia to the digital hybrid Kippari well-being intervention. The participants will be recruited through multiple channels using the networks of the implementers participating in the North Karelia 2.0 project, various communication channels and social media. The study assesses the introduction of well-being coaching and its effects on the participants’ well-being (WALY), healthy lifestyles (HLI) and, more broadly, productivity–oriented life years (PALY). Information on their well-being and lifestyle and the underlying factors will be collected from the participants before the start of the intervention, immediately after the end of the intervention and 12 months after the intervention using a digital questionnaire. In addition, a survey will be collected and the practical implementers of well-being coaching will be interviewed, which will be used to assess the implementation and the challenges and factors that promote it. GEE/SEM modelling is utilised in the impact study, and content analysis and theme analysis are used in qualitative analyses.

The research project will produce new and valuable research data on a) how to successfully introduce an effective digital wellbeing intervention, b) how the lifestyle change of those participating in digital wellbeing intervention can be supported cost–effectively, and c) what are the broader well–being and productivity effects of digital well-being intervention, and d) what should be taken into account when scaling the digital well-being intervention in question nationally and internationally.

Research is conducted in collaboration with North Karelia project 2.0, Finnish Heart Association, Karelia AMK  ja Wellbeing Services County of North Karelia.