Two pilot programmes aim to use wearable technology to help individuals manage their health and prevent chronic conditions.
SINGAPORE – The Health Promotion Board (HPB) is launching two pilot programmes that leverage wearable trackers and other technologies to provide real-time feedback on health. These initiatives aim to help individuals manage chronic conditions and prevent diseases, particularly in at-risk groups.
The first programme, DigiCoach, will involve up to 2,500 participants who will use a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device to track their glucose levels throughout the day. This will allow users to see how their glucose fluctuates in response to their diet and physical activity. In collaboration with Abbott, the CGM device manufacturer, and Health2Sync, which supports pre-diabetics and people with high body mass index (BMI), DigiCoach aims to provide users with actionable insights to improve their health.
The second initiative, HealthTrack SG, will work with 3,500 participants, gathering data from various tracking apps into one platform. This data will then be used by health coaches from Fullerton Health to provide tailored advice and counseling on managing high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
Research suggests that real-time feedback encourages individuals to make small adjustments to their lifestyle, leading to better health outcomes. HPB’s Chief Executive, Tay Choon Hong, emphasized that these collaborations aim to test and scale solutions that offer timely, actionable health recommendations.
In addition to these programmes, HPB is collaborating with Alexandra Hospital on a study called Activation, which examines the impact of wearable devices alone or paired with a health coach in encouraging more physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior.
The initiatives align with Singapore’s broader health strategy, which includes the national preventive care programme, Healthier SG. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung noted that wearables and health apps are changing how individuals monitor and improve their health. The Health Plan under Healthier SG is set to become more personalized, offering specific advice on diet and exercise.
The pilot programmes, which aim to enroll up to 6,000 participants, will run through 2025. With real-time monitoring, participants like Victor Tan, who is involved in DigiCoach, are already seeing the benefits of adjusting their lifestyle based on immediate feedback about their glucose levels.
HPB hopes to use the data gathered to assess the feasibility of expanding these programmes, potentially benefiting a wider population in Singapore.
