PULSE: Holistic Health App for Universities

The PULSE team aims to address the challenges of college students’ busy lives and limited time for self-care by conducting scientific health tracking through research and app development, with the goal of improving their physical and mental well-being.

In terms of research, the PULSE team first collects data from the DKU population and categorizes health status into different branches, such as sleep, diet, water & caffeine intake, academic workload, mental stress, and exercise. Each branch is thoroughly investigated through questionnaires and interviews. For instance, the sleeping branch collects data on sleep duration, quality, and schedule for comprehensive analysis, while the mental stress branch delves into economic stress, mental state, and interpersonal relationships.

In parallel, the PULSE team develops an app by carefully selecting and prioritizing research branches based on survey results and data analysis. The app facilitates personalized data collection, daily tracking, and monitoring of health indicators such as sleep, water & caffeine intake, and nutrition. The collected data is presented in visual formats, allowing users to easily understand and persist in improving their health status. Overall, the PULSE team’s approach involves both thorough research and thoughtful app development to enable college students to effectively track and improve their physical and mental health, considering the unique challenges they face in their busy lives.

Q1:  What is the innovation of the PULSE project compared with other health tracking and monitoring methods?

A: Our innovative health-tracking app offers personalized customization options, allowing users to tailor their health and wellness journey according to their preferences. Through data collection and analysis, we can provide valuable insights to support the DKU campus initiative, fostering publicity and cooperation on physical and mental health. Our App features a unique logo, complemented by inspiring “Bear quotes” that motivate users to prioritize their well-being. Based on our survey and research results, as well as the status quo of other universities, there is also potential to market our well-developed app to other institutions, enabling them to adopt a health-tracking model tailored to their specific needs and requirements. Our comprehensive approach to health and wellness aims to empower individuals and communities to prioritize their health and well-being, while fostering collaborations and partnerships to promote holistic wellness on campuses and beyond.

 

Q2: In what ways has DKU InE supported your project?

A: For PULSE, the worksheets provided by InE offer provide an effective way to approach project development, allowing our team to brainstorm ideas, set goals, and plan strategies. By using worksheets, we can systematically organize our thoughts and outline the project roadmap, which helps to streamline the development process and ensure that all team members are on the same page. Deadlines and pitches also play a crucial role in promoting cooperation between team members and project progress. Regular deadlines help our members stay accountable and ensure the timely completion of tasks, while pitches encourage idea sharing and feedback, fostering collaboration and innovation. Additionally, the monthly/semester/yearly reports serve as valuable tools for project reflection and improvement. These reports allow us to assess progress, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions to enhance project outcomes. Furthermore, engaging with other Dii teams during the communication process leads to gaining a wealth of innovative thinking. Collaborating with other teams provides opportunities for the cross-pollination of ideas, sparking creativity, and fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. By leveraging worksheets, deadlines, pitches, reports, and collaboration with other teams, projects can thrive and achieve our goals effectively.

 

Q3: Do you have any plans and expectations for the future operation of the PULSE project?

A: We plan to conduct health-related activities on a monthly basis to continuously monitor and collect data on the health status of college students. These activities will be designed to raise public awareness about the importance of physical and mental health and encourage student participation in data collection. In addition to the regular monthly activities, our team also aims to conduct market research to gather continuous and persistent data on various health indicators. This research will provide valuable insights into the evolving health needs and behaviors of college students, enabling the PULSE team to adapt and improve our interventions accordingly. Moreover, we would like to promote PULSE on and off campus during the summer vacation by following our PULSE calendar.