The social side of personal engagement in healthcare

The recent trend toward patient participation in their own healthcare has opened up numerous challenges and opportunities for research related to collaborative systems. In this paper, I summarize interdisciplinary efforts to create “shared understandings of personal health” - in which collaborative systems are designed through ongoing efforts to assess and support patients´ information and communication needs. In particular, these efforts address needs as they are made evident in healthcare settings, such as the need to stay informed about care processes, track and communicate symptoms, and learn about treatments and therapies to participate in shared decision-making. I discuss a research program focused on the design of collaborative systems to support shared understandings of a patient´s health and discuss a range of current projects in this unique interdisciplinary space.