Which CoHeReNt members are involved?
Aurel Zelko (aurel.zelko@upjs.sk)
What does the team do?
The team supports the design, development, and implementation of digital health tools for the prevention and management of chronic diseases.
What methods does the team use?
The team integrates co-design and co-development methods into the ideation and development of digital health tools. We also supports the implementation of these tools in both patients’ homes and clinical care settings.
Vacant PhD positions
Accessibility and applicability of e-Health and m-Health technologies in clinical care, Supervisor: Andrea Madarasová Gecková
Ongoing PhD studies
Completed PhD thesis
A. Zelko: Intradialytic exercise in haemodialysis patients: applicability and effects on muscle function, 2024.
Ongoing projects
Heart-eXg – Exergaming to decrease ‘sitting time’ for persons with chronic conditions
Responsible organisation: Linköping University – Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences – Division of Nursing Sciences and Reproductive Health. Responsible investigator at LiU: Prof. Tiny Jaarsma. Responsible investigator at UPJS: Aurel Zelko. Estimated project duration: April 2024 – December 2026. The project is funded by the Swedish Research Council (Vetenskapsrådet); The Kamprad Family Foundation for Entrepreneurship, Research and Charity (Familjen Kamprads stiftelse); The Research Council in Southeast Sweden (Forskningsrådet i sydöstra Sverige (FORSS) and The Swedish Heart Lung Foundation (Hjärt-Lungfonden).
Regular physical activity—at least 150 minutes per week—is recommended for overall health, independence, and quality of life. Inactivity and prolonged sitting are linked to higher risks of chronic diseases and mortality. As chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes rise globally, many older adults with such conditions remain inactive, often due to symptoms, limited access to facilities, or fear of infection. To address these challenges, developing tailored physical activity interventions requires interdisciplinary collaboration and input from those affected. Based on prior research and co-design with individuals living with chronic illness, a mobile exergame called Heart Farming was created to meet their specific needs and preferences. The overall purpose of this project is to evaluate the effect of a tailored mobile exergame at home (indoor and outdoor) for inactive persons with a chronic illness to reduce their sedentary time, increase their daily physical activity, submaximal exercise capacity, decrease physical frailty and improve health-related quality of life.
Past projects
Physical activity and the patient´s health and quality of life
Another project is focusing on physical activity and its benefits for dialyzed patients as well as on its´ applicability in the dialysis setting. We interviewed health care professionals about the benefits and barriers for such intervention and the findings of our research aim to inform future strategies for supporting patients’ health and quality of life with this chronic condition.
Our team also collaborates with the Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry (Faculty of Medicine, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice) in an exploration of micro-ribonucleic acids roles in patients´ clinical profiles and adaptation of skeletal muscle tissue on exercise and inactivity. The understanding of miRNAs functions in different conditions of patients is an important part of the future development of advanced therapies in renal care.
Funding:“Secondary Prevention of Dialysis Patients: Aspects of Physical Activity, Quality of Life and Application of Movement Program in Dialysis Workplace Environment” UPJS funding under the contract No. VVGS-2019-1069 (2019-2021).
COHERENT 