Theories | Digital Health Codes

Digital Health Co-Design

Theories

In this section, you can find a range of evidence-based theories, conceptual models and frameworks used to co-design digital health technologies with end users and other stakeholder groups.

These can range from behavioural or psychological theories, to design frameworks, and implementation and evaluation models which can support different aspects of the the co-design process.

👉 You can watch a short animated video for an introduction to theories used in digital health co-design

Behavioural and Psychological Theories

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) model (Callan et al., 2021)
Cognitive model of caregiving (Buck et al., 2023)
Family Systems Theory (St.George et al., 2020)
Goal-Setting Theory (Giunti et al., 2017)
Health Belief Model (Rudin et al., 2017)
Self-Determination Theory (St.George et al., 2020)
Self-efficacy theory (Mortenson et al., 2019)
Sen’s theoretical framework of social justice (Latulippe et al., 2020)
Social Cognitive Theory (Richardson et al., 2021)
Stress Vulnerability Model (Fortuna et al., 2017)
Theories about self-management for chronic conditions (Hochstenbach et al., 2017)
Theory of Planned Behaviour (Ma et al., 2022)

Design Frameworks

CycleWs of design (Weisblatt et al., 2019)
Design and Evaluation of Digital Health Interventions (DEDHI) framework (Pérez-Aronsson et al., 2022)
Design sprint methodology (Salim et al., 2021)
Design thinking approach (Geerts et al., 2023)
Elements of User Experience UX framework (Giroux et al., 2019)
Google Sprint framework (Pfisterer et al., 2019)
Health Information Technology Usability Evaluation Model (Brown et al., 2022)
Human-centred design (HCD) framework (Morse et al., 2021)
IDEO approach (Catalani et al., 2014)
Integrate, Design, Assess, and Share (IDEAS) framework (St.George et al., 2020)
OpenUP/ISO Usability Maturity Model (Farinango et al., 2018)
User-centred design framework (Alhodaib et al., 2019)

Implementation and Evaluation Frameworks

Medical Research Council (MRC) framework (Chatterjee et al., 2022)
The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR)
Intervention mapping model (Brien et al., 2023)
The ADDIE processes (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation) (Davies et al., 2018)
Iterative and incremental models in system development (Toolaroud et al., 2023)
Adaptive Systems Engineering Framework (Fortuna et al., 2017)
Framework for health literacy applications (Rathnayake et al., 2021)
Health Literacy Framework (Salim et al., 2021)

Healthcare Specific Models

Chronic Care Model (Knoblock-Hahn et al., 2016)
Microsimulation model (Ozanne et al., 2015)
Stratified stepped care model (Mak et al., 2023)
Website Developmental Model for the Healthcare Consumer (Richardson et al., 2021)