Use of Digital Media by Older Adults – Requirements and Effectiveness in Various Contexts
Dissertation Project
Use of Digital Media by Older Adults – Requirements and Effectiveness in Various Contexts
Ms. von Storch and Ms. Schlomann are examining various aspects of ambulatory assessments (computer-assisted data collection in everyday contexts) and mobile health technologies (wearable electronic devices) among older adults. In doing so, they take a holistic approach to the requirements of the target group as well as the success of using these technical systems. In her dissertation, Ms. von Storch focuses on the success of use and the subjective experience of mobile health technologies among chronically ill older adults. For this target group, coping with their illness in everyday life is often a major challenge. With the help of mobile health technologies, health- and illness-related data can be recorded, analyzed, and used to provide feedback. The hypothesis here is that mobile health technologies can support people with health issues and lead to improved management of their illness. The goal is to develop a decision-making tool for the application of mobile health technologies in the field of secondary prevention, based on the influencing factors.
Research Interests
- Health literacy
- Technical support systems for the elderly
- Geriatric care
Education
- 08/2008 – 04/2010: MSc Health Policy, Economics and Management; Maastricht University, Netherlands
- 09/2005 – 08/2008: BSc General Health Sciences; Maastricht University, Netherlands
Professional Career
- Since 02/2015: Research Assistant at the doctoral program “NRW Progress College: Well-being into Old Age” at the University of Cologne
- 10/2013 – 01/2015: Research Assistant at the Ethics Research Center of the University Hospital Cologne
- Oct 2012 – Sep 2013: Administrative Assistant at the Department of Geriatrics, University Hospital Cologne
- 05/2010 – 10/2012: International project management at DKMS German Bone Marrow Donor Registry gGmbH
Publications and Presentations
von Storch, K., Schlomann, A., Rietz, C., Polidori, M. C., & Woopen, C. (2017). Wearables to support self-management of older adults with chronic diseases. A qualitative study from the perspectives of patients and physicians. Journal of Gerontology and Geriatrics. doi: 10.1007/s00391-017-1323-2
von Storch, K. & Schlomann, A. (2016). Modern Technology for Disease Prevention. ProAlter, 04/2016, 27-30.
von Storch, K. & Schlomann, A. (October 2015). Smarter, Older, Better? Mobile health technologies for the elderly. Speech presented at the meeting “Grand Challenges: Answers from North Rhine-Westphalia. Transdisciplinary research in the area of active aging,” Brussels, Belgium.
von Storch, K., Mertz, Marcel (October 2014). Empowerment through technology? Health literacy as a prerequisite for self-determination in age-appropriate assistance systems. Presentation at the annual conference of the Academy for Ethics in Medicine “The Technologization of Medicine as an Ethical Challenge,” Ulm.
von Storch, K., Schlomann, A., Rasche, P., & Rietz, C. (2016). Means of Motivation or of Stress? The Use of Fitness Trackers for Self-Monitoring by Older Adults. HeilberufeScience. doi:10.1007/s16024-016-0275-6.
von Storch, K. (2016, June). Wearable Health Technologies for Older, Chronically Ill Patients. Paper
presented at the European Society for Health and Medical Sociology 16th biennial congress “Healthy
Lives: Technologies, Policies, and Experiences,” Geneva, Switzerland.