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.
Dr Fatma Layas, Innovation Fellow at ATiC, UWTSD, said:
“This collaboration ensured that the toolkit was not only clinically credible but also practical and user-friendly. By evaluating the Healthhub apps and clinician platform, and by turning user feedback into meaningful improvements, we supported the development of a solution that truly meets the needs of both patients and healthcare professionals.”
Dr Ceri Phelps, Health Psychologist at UWTSD, added:
“It is vital that we capture the human side of healthcare when evaluating interventions and apps. By exploring confidence, motivation, and capability, we gained a better understanding of how the toolkit can encourage positive behaviour change in people living with respiratory conditions.”
Professor Chris Hopkins, Consultant Clinical Scientist & Head of Innovation at the TriTech Institute, said:
“This evaluation helps us to make sure that people with asthma and COPD in Wales receive the best possible care, by supporting healthcare professionals with up-to-date, evidence-based training and guidance, and by providing individuals with the tools they need to manage their condition confidently.
“It also helps us to identify where improvements are needed, ensuring that services are responsive to people’s real-life experiences. Ultimately, this work strengthens our commitment to delivering care that is not only effective, but also person-centred.”
Dr Mark Cocks, Dean of the University’s Wales Institute of Science and Art, said:
“This evaluation demonstrates how universities and health boards can work hand in hand to test and improve new innovations. By combining clinical expertise, human-centred design, and psychological insight, UWTSD and TriTech have produced recommendations that will help ensure the Respiratory Toolkit is both effective and sustainable for the future.”
