A collaboration between the University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) Assistive Technologies Innovation Centre (ATiC) and Hywel Dda University Health Board’s TriTech Institute has completed a national evaluation of the ICST Respiratory Toolkit – a digital platform designed to support people living with asthma and COPD, and to help standardise respiratory care across Wales.
The evaluation, commissioned by NHS Wales Chief Executives, looked at how well the toolkit works for patients, healthcare professionals, and the wider health system. TriTech provided the clinical leadership, qualitative and quantitative analysis, while UWTSD’s ATiC team carried out user experience (UX) testing and bilingual, human-centred research, ensuring the toolkit reflected everyday needs and experiences.
A key part of UWTSD’s role was also the contribution of its psychology academics, who used established behaviour change models to explore how the toolkit influences confidence, motivation, and capability among patients managing their conditions. By combining clinical insight with this behavioural approach, the evaluation provided a deeper understanding of how the toolkit supports both professionals and individuals in real-world contexts.
This collaborative approach shows how health boards and universities can work together to assess digital tools already in use before wider adoption, said UWTSD.