In the last century, the average human life expectancy has significantly increased, due to improvements in healthcare, sanitation, nutrition, and medical therapies. However, this increased longevity does not always translate into more years of healthy life. Population aging has been accompanied by a substantial growth in the prevalence of age-related non-communicable diseases such as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia (changes in blood lipid levels), stress, and anxiety. These diseases are now the leading causes of disability and mortality in many regions, and are largely associated with modifiable lifestyle factors, including physical inactivity, unbalanced diets, smoking, alcohol consumption, and inadequate sleep patterns. Toolkit
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Home / Publications / Publication
FROM AWARENESS TO CHANGE WITH A DIGITAL TOOLKIT TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES
Publication type: Article Summary
Original title: Development of a Healthy Lifestyle Assessment Toolkit for the General Public
Article publication date: June 2019
Source: Frontiers in Medicine
Authors: Flávio Reis, Bebiana Sá-Moura, Diana Guardado, Patrícia Couceiro, Luis Catarino, Anabela Mota-Pinto, Manuel Veríssimo, Ana Maria Teixeira, Pedro Ferreira, Margarida Lima, Filipe Palavra, Luis Rama, Lelita Santos, Roel A van der Heijden, Carlos Gonçalves, António Cunha & João Malva
What is the goal, target audience, and areas of digital health it addresses?
The Healthy Lifestyle Innovative Quarters for Cities and Citizens (HeaLIQs4cities) project aims to engage, empower, and educate citizens for healthier lifestyles. To do this, it uses a rapid lifestyle assessment, using a digital toolkit, followed by personalized guidance. The target audience includes the general public, with particular emphasis on older adults with less access to or interaction with conventional healthcare services. The project addresses key areas of digital health, such as health promotion, citizen engagement, digital health literacy, and integration of digital health support technologies, through an online platform.
What is the context?
In the last century, the average human life expectancy has significantly increased, due to improvements in healthcare, sanitation, nutrition, and medical therapies. However, this increased longevity does not always translate into more years of healthy life. Population aging has been accompanied by a substantial growth in the prevalence of age-related non-communicable diseases such as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia (changes in blood lipid levels), stress, and anxiety. These diseases are now the leading causes of disability and mortality in many regions, and are largely associated with modifiable lifestyle factors, including physical inactivity, unbalanced diets, smoking, alcohol consumption, and inadequate sleep patterns.
Portugal is particularly affected by this demographic trend, especially in the Centre Region, which ranks among the most aged in Europe. The country is expected to have one of the highest age dependency ratios in the European Union, with a sharp increase in the proportion of dependent people (under 18 and over 65) in relation to the working-age population. This demographic transition brings increased pressures on social, economic and health systems, requiring effective and sustainable responses. In this context, preventive strategies focused on health promotion are urgently, with the aim of reducing the burden of chronic disease, delaying the onset of functional dependence, and ensuring the sustainability of healthcare systems.
What are the current approaches?
Nowadays, there is a clear shift in mindset toward longevity medicine — a proactive and integrative model that focuses on maintaining health and preventing illness by assessing both risk-related behaviors and those that promote physical, mental, and social well-being over time. Despite this new perspective, primary healthcare continues to be the main point of contact for addressing lifestyle habits. However, it faces several limitations, such as predominantly reactive and symptom-centered approach, gaps in the lifestyle medicine training of healthcare professionals, time constraints, and the difficulty of addressing multiple risk factors simultaneously.
There are, however, structured tools focused on prevention, such as eVITAL toolkit. This toolkit is a health assessment tool designed to be integrated into primary care, which assesses factors such as cognition, vitality, diet, sleep, stress, physical exercise and substance use. Developed by multidisciplinary experts, it offers a detailed approach divided into over 140 subcategories, which can be used for simple evaluation up to a complete clinical evaluation. While its thoroughness is a major strength, its length and complexity can pose challenges for everyday use, especially in resource-limited settings.
What does the project consist of? How is the impact of this project assessed?
The HeaLIQs4Cities project involves the development, validation, and implementation of a digital lifestyle assessment toolkit integrated into eVida, an online platform for personal health management. Developed by a multidisciplinary team, this toolkit promotes preventive health by assessing 8 lifestyle factors: (1) anthropometric and cardiometabolic parameters (e.g., body mass index, blood pressure); (2) physical activity (self-perceived activity levels, walking time); (3) well-being, social cohesion, and functional independence (life satisfaction, social support, ability to perform daily activities); (4) nutrition (weekly intake of key food groups); (5) mental health (diagnosed mental or neurological conditions); (6) substance use (such as tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs); (7) sleep habits and quality (sleep duration and medication use); and (8) general health and disease history (presence of chronic conditions, polymedication).
Each factor is evaluated using a traffic light system—green for low risk, yellow for moderate risk, and orange for relevant risk. The toolkit is structured to begin with a rapid evaluation, consisting of a questionnaire lasting less than 10 minutes and recording data obtained through digital devices, such as measuring blood pressure with a tensiometer. If individuals are identified as having moderate or high risk in this initial phase, they proceed to a more in-depth evaluation, which includes detailed questionnaires and the use of specific digital devices such as bioimpedance scales (for body composition analysis), dynamometers (for measuring muscle strength), balance platforms (for assessing postural stability), and oximeters (for analyzing respiratory function).
At the end of the assessments, participants receive personalized counselling according to their risk profile, ranging from encouragement to maintain healthy behaviors to advice for lifestyle modifications and referral for professional follow-up when necessary. Data was collected anonymously and processed via the eVida platform, ensuring standardization and interoperability.
The impact of the project was evaluated through pilot studies carried out in real community contexts, such as the Praça Vida+ initiative in a shopping center in Coimbra. These events enabled testing the toolkit’s feasibility and usability, as well as its ability to engage the population, identify lifestyle patterns, and assess participants’ willingness to consider the recommendations provided.
What are the main results? What is the future of this project?
The project successfully validated a multidimensional digital tool, integrated into the eVida platform, which stands out for its scalability and long-term sustainability. During the Praça Vida+ event, over 300 citizens completed the lifestyle assessment and received personalized advice based on the results. The toolkit proved to be a concise, user-friendly, and highly adaptable solution, providing real-time insights and immediate feedback. This approach has contributed to empowering individuals to take an active role in managing their health, encouraging self-reflection and motivating new health assessments.
In the future, large-scale implementation of the toolkit is planned as an integral part of preventive health strategies and community programs. Its adaptability and integration into digital health platforms will enable continuous evolution alongside future innovations to promote self-care and active aging.
Would you like to know all the details?
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Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition with significant clinical, social and economic repercussions throughout life. According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated…
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Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting more than 55 million people globally and accounting for around 70 percent of dementia cases….
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Demographic ageing poses significant challenges to healthcare systems, intensifying the pressure on infrastructures and human resources. It is estimated that by 2050 the elderly population…
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Portugal has one of the highest aging populations in the world, placing increasing pressure on elderly care services, especially in nursing homes. Healthcare professionals in…
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Paroxysmal diseases are characterized by sudden, episodic conditions that cause temporary changes in the body. Among them, epilepsy stands out for causing synchronous and uncontrolled…
Automatic Segmentation of Blood Vessels in Carotid Ultrasound Images
Vascular diseases, such as carotid stenosis (narrowing of the carotid arteries, which connect the heart to the brain, caused by the accumulation of fatty atheroma…
Impact of Robotherapy-PARO on Elderly People With Dementia in Portugal
Aging is a gradual, multifactorial and continuous process characterized by the progressive loss of biological function and degeneration associated with the onset of age-related diseases….
New Era of Interoperability in Healthcare Systems
The growing use of electronic health records, digital diagnostic systems and remote monitoring technologies has led to a significant increase in the volume and complexity…
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Breast-conserving surgery aims to remove tumors while preserving as much healthy breast tissue as possible, ensuring optimal aesthetic outcomes that are critical for a patient’s…
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Orthopedic surgery addresses conditions of the musculoskeletal system to alleviate pain, restore function, and enhance the patient’s quality of life. Its success relies on meticulous…
Digital Health at the Top of the National Poliempreende 2024 Results
Poliempreende is a consolidated national network for encouraging entrepreneurship in higher education in Portugal, with two decades of existence. Focused on promoting innovation, the competition…
Digital Solution Facilitates Interaction Between Users and Health Professionals
Many patients face difficulties scheduling medical appointments in hospital units, and, when successful, they often endure long waiting times to be attended. This situation is…
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In recent years, digital transformation in healthcare has played a crucial role, driven by the exponential increase in medical data. This ranges from administrative information…
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Anxiety disorders are a global problem, affecting 300 million people worldwide and placing significant pressure on individuals and healthcare systems. In Europe alone, the economic…
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Facial paralysis, defined by the inability to move one or both sides of the face, has an incidence of 20 to 30 cases per 100,000…
Detection of Anxiety and Panic Attacks in Real Time
The growing number of people with anxiety disorders, along with increased awareness of mental health, drives the need for new technological tools that provide remote…
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Currently, robotic systems for ultrasound diagnostic procedures fall into two main categories: portable robots that require manual positioning and fully autonomous robotic systems that independently…
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Home / Publications / Publication
FROM AWARENESS TO CHANGE WITH A DIGITAL TOOLKIT TO PROMOTE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES
Publication type: Article Summary
Original title: Development of a Healthy Lifestyle Assessment Toolkit for the General Public
Article publication date: June 2019
Source: Frontiers in Medicine
Authors: Flávio Reis, Bebiana Sá-Moura, Diana Guardado, Patrícia Couceiro, Luis Catarino, Anabela Mota-Pinto, Manuel Veríssimo, Ana Maria Teixeira, Pedro Ferreira, Margarida Lima, Filipe Palavra, Luis Rama, Lelita Santos, Roel A van der Heijden, Carlos Gonçalves, António Cunha & João Malva
What is the goal, target audience, and areas of digital health it addresses?
The Healthy Lifestyle Innovative Quarters for Cities and Citizens (HeaLIQs4cities) project aims to engage, empower, and educate citizens for healthier lifestyles. To do this, it uses a rapid lifestyle assessment, using a digital toolkit, followed by personalized guidance. The target audience includes the general public, with particular emphasis on older adults with less access to or interaction with conventional healthcare services. The project addresses key areas of digital health, such as health promotion, citizen engagement, digital health literacy, and integration of digital health support technologies, through an online platform.
What is the context?
In the last century, the average human life expectancy has significantly increased, due to improvements in healthcare, sanitation, nutrition, and medical therapies. However, this increased longevity does not always translate into more years of healthy life. Population aging has been accompanied by a substantial growth in the prevalence of age-related non-communicable diseases such as obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia (changes in blood lipid levels), stress, and anxiety. These diseases are now the leading causes of disability and mortality in many regions, and are largely associated with modifiable lifestyle factors, including physical inactivity, unbalanced diets, smoking, alcohol consumption, and inadequate sleep patterns.
Portugal is particularly affected by this demographic trend, especially in the Centre Region, which ranks among the most aged in Europe. The country is expected to have one of the highest age dependency ratios in the European Union, with a sharp increase in the proportion of dependent people (under 18 and over 65) in relation to the working-age population. This demographic transition brings increased pressures on social, economic and health systems, requiring effective and sustainable responses. In this context, preventive strategies focused on health promotion are urgently, with the aim of reducing the burden of chronic disease, delaying the onset of functional dependence, and ensuring the sustainability of healthcare systems.
What are the current approaches?
Nowadays, there is a clear shift in mindset toward longevity medicine — a proactive and integrative model that focuses on maintaining health and preventing illness by assessing both risk-related behaviors and those that promote physical, mental, and social well-being over time. Despite this new perspective, primary healthcare continues to be the main point of contact for addressing lifestyle habits. However, it faces several limitations, such as predominantly reactive and symptom-centered approach, gaps in the lifestyle medicine training of healthcare professionals, time constraints, and the difficulty of addressing multiple risk factors simultaneously.
There are, however, structured tools focused on prevention, such as eVITAL toolkit. This toolkit is a health assessment tool designed to be integrated into primary care, which assesses factors such as cognition, vitality, diet, sleep, stress, physical exercise and substance use. Developed by multidisciplinary experts, it offers a detailed approach divided into over 140 subcategories, which can be used for simple evaluation up to a complete clinical evaluation. While its thoroughness is a major strength, its length and complexity can pose challenges for everyday use, especially in resource-limited settings.
What does the project consist of? How is the impact of this project assessed?
The HeaLIQs4Cities project involves the development, validation, and implementation of a digital lifestyle assessment toolkit integrated into eVida, an online platform for personal health management. Developed by a multidisciplinary team, this toolkit promotes preventive health by assessing 8 lifestyle factors: (1) anthropometric and cardiometabolic parameters (e.g., body mass index, blood pressure); (2) physical activity (self-perceived activity levels, walking time); (3) well-being, social cohesion, and functional independence (life satisfaction, social support, ability to perform daily activities); (4) nutrition (weekly intake of key food groups); (5) mental health (diagnosed mental or neurological conditions); (6) substance use (such as tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs); (7) sleep habits and quality (sleep duration and medication use); and (8) general health and disease history (presence of chronic conditions, polymedication).
Each factor is evaluated using a traffic light system—green for low risk, yellow for moderate risk, and orange for relevant risk. The toolkit is structured to begin with a rapid evaluation, consisting of a questionnaire lasting less than 10 minutes and recording data obtained through digital devices, such as measuring blood pressure with a tensiometer. If individuals are identified as having moderate or high risk in this initial phase, they proceed to a more in-depth evaluation, which includes detailed questionnaires and the use of specific digital devices such as bioimpedance scales (for body composition analysis), dynamometers (for measuring muscle strength), balance platforms (for assessing postural stability), and oximeters (for analyzing respiratory function).
At the end of the assessments, participants receive personalized counselling according to their risk profile, ranging from encouragement to maintain healthy behaviors to advice for lifestyle modifications and referral for professional follow-up when necessary. Data was collected anonymously and processed via the eVida platform, ensuring standardization and interoperability.
The impact of the project was evaluated through pilot studies carried out in real community contexts, such as the Praça Vida+ initiative in a shopping center in Coimbra. These events enabled testing the toolkit’s feasibility and usability, as well as its ability to engage the population, identify lifestyle patterns, and assess participants’ willingness to consider the recommendations provided.
What are the main results? What is the future of this project?
The project successfully validated a multidimensional digital tool, integrated into the eVida platform, which stands out for its scalability and long-term sustainability. During the Praça Vida+ event, over 300 citizens completed the lifestyle assessment and received personalized advice based on the results. The toolkit proved to be a concise, user-friendly, and highly adaptable solution, providing real-time insights and immediate feedback. This approach has contributed to empowering individuals to take an active role in managing their health, encouraging self-reflection and motivating new health assessments.
In the future, large-scale implementation of the toolkit is planned as an integral part of preventive health strategies and community programs. Its adaptability and integration into digital health platforms will enable continuous evolution alongside future innovations to promote self-care and active aging.
Would you like to know all the details?
Prediction of Delivery Mode After Induction Using Machine Learning Models
Induction of labor is a frequently performed obstetric procedure that involves the artificial initiation of uterine contractions before spontaneous onset. Its use has been increasing globally, particularly in high-income countries, where it accounts for about…
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Digital transformation has reconfigured healthcare systems, by integrating digital technologies into clinical and administrative processes, driving improvements in the quality of services, patient safety and the organizational efficiency of institutions. In addition to the computerization…
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Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterised by persistent difficulties in initiating sleep, maintaining sleep during the night, or achieving restful sleep. These difficulties arise even in the presence of adequate sleeping conditions and are often…
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According to the World Health Organisation, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, responsible for around 17.9 million deaths a year. Its high prevalence is associated with unhealthy lifestyles characterised by poor diet,…
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Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition with significant clinical, social and economic repercussions throughout life. According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated to affect approximately 1 in 160 children worldwide. Its origin…
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Eye diseases represent a growing public health challenge in Portugal, significantly compromising the population’s quality of life. The increase in their prevalence is associated with various factors, such as demographic ageing, excessive use of digital…
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Healthcare-associated infections pose a serious public health threat, as they are acquired during medical treatments or hospital stays, often leading to prolonged hospitalizations, high costs for healthcare systems and high mortality rates. Portugal has one…
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Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting more than 55 million people globally and accounting for around 70 percent of dementia cases. In Portugal, it is estimated that 200,000 people live with…
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Impact of Robotherapy-PARO on Elderly People With Dementia in Portugal
Aging is a gradual, multifactorial and continuous process characterized by the progressive loss of biological function and degeneration associated with the onset of age-related diseases. In Portugal, the aging of the population is particularly noticeable,…
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The growing use of electronic health records, digital diagnostic systems and remote monitoring technologies has led to a significant increase in the volume and complexity of health data. This increase intensifies the need for continuous,…
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Breast-conserving surgery aims to remove tumors while preserving as much healthy breast tissue as possible, ensuring optimal aesthetic outcomes that are critical for a patient’s quality of life. To achieve this objective, precise location of…
Collaborative Robotics Improves Working Conditions
Workers face growing challenges in the industrial environment. Among the most critical are fatigue and inappropriate postures, often associated with repetitive tasks and working conditions that lack ergonomic suitability. These factors represent significant risks for…
The Role of Mobile Technologies in the Monitoring and Rehabilitation of Peripheral Arterial Disease
PAD is a prevalent chronic condition, affecting approximately 200 million individuals globally, characterized by obstruction of the peripheral arteries, especially in the lower extremities, due to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, which compromise blood flow…
Incorporation of Digital Implants Into CT Images to Plan Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic surgery addresses conditions of the musculoskeletal system to alleviate pain, restore function, and enhance the patient’s quality of life. Its success relies on meticulous pre-operative planning that incorporates clinical data and patient-specific imaging to…
Digital Health at the Top of the National Poliempreende 2024 Results
Poliempreende is a consolidated national network for encouraging entrepreneurship in higher education in Portugal, with two decades of existence. Focused on promoting innovation, the competition has had a significant impact on the national economy, with…
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Many patients face difficulties scheduling medical appointments in hospital units, and, when successful, they often endure long waiting times to be attended. This situation is aggravated by problems such as the incompatibility of schedules between…
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In recent years, digital transformation in healthcare has played a crucial role, driven by the exponential increase in medical data. This ranges from administrative information to detailed records of diagnoses, laboratory tests, medical images and…
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Currently, the practice of recording clinical information in “free text” offers flexibility, but hinders automatic data extraction, limiting the application of analytical models. Most records are unstructured, and the use of non-standard abbreviations increases ambiguity,…
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European Commission Amends Digital Europe Programme With an Investment of €762.7 Million
The European Commission has amended the Digital Europe Programme work programmes 2023-2024, investing an additional €762.7 million in Europe’s digital transition and cybersecurity. The digital transition is the main work programme with a budget of…
SPMS Integrates the TEF-Health Initiative
SPMS participates in the TEF-Health initiative as a partner in a consortium composed of 51 entities from 9 European Union countries. This action is co-financed by the European Commission and has a duration of five…
FMUP Creates Inhealth Junior Academy for High School Students
The InHealth Junior Academy — Academia Júnior de Inovação em Saúde is an initiative of the Departamento de Medicina da Comunidade, Informação e Decisão em Saúde da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto (FMUP)….
SPMS Represents Portugal as Vice-president of GDHP
The GDHP is an intergovernmental organization in the digital health sector that facilitates cooperation and collaboration between government representatives and the World Health Organization (WHO). Its purpose is to foster policymaking that promote the digitalization…
Digital Transformation of Health at INCoDe.2030 in Tomar
The “National Digital Skills Initiative e.2030, Portugal” (INCoDe.2030) is an initiative that aims to improve the Portuguese population’s level of digital skills, placing Portugal at the level of the most advanced European countries in this…
Braga Hospital Evaluates Memory With Interactive Game in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis is known as a chronic disease of the central nervous system, with a wide variety of motor and sensory symptoms that can lead to work disability, socioeconomic burden, and reduced quality of life…
Neurosurgery Teleconsultation Wins Innovation Award
The aim of the BI Award for Innovation in Healthcare is to recognize innovative projects in the healthcare sector that improve the quality of life for the Portuguese people. In 2021, the specific theme was…
HealthData@PT: New SPMS Initiative for Health Data
Action HealthData@PT is launched in the context of the implementation of the European Health Data Space, and is an initiative approved by the European Commission under the EU4Health 2021-2027 programme. This initiative contributes to the…
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