Carl Johan OrreProgramledare/UniversitetslektorFakulteten för teknik och samhälleInstitutionen för datavetenskap och medieteknik


From Distance to Engagement: Establishing Fieldwork in the Digiphysical World of Ängelholm Hospital

This seminar focuses on the first year of a research project, ’Digital when possible, Physical when necessary: An exploration of the digiphysical world of Ängelholm hospital, which involves initiating four distinct sub-studies while balancing multiple research roles: the traditional researcher, the action researcher, and the follow-up researcher. These roles have required distinct approaches—from maintaining analytical distance to actively participating in change processes—all while contributing as a collaborator in establishing an innovation and development unit at Ängelholm Hospital. The seminar will present how I have chosen to enter and establish the field in my work, focusing on the different sub-studies.

The cases are:

  • Clinic X: a case study focusing on examining digital practices in the daily work at the hospital clinics.
  • SMASc, the Northwest Initiative: This case study aims to establish digital outpatient clinics, strengthen self-care support, and develop person-centred work routines at the hospital.
  • DigicaRE: a case study that investigates digital practices in Digital Cancer Rehabilitation Online, a fully digital outpatient clinic that offers rehabilitation support to cancer patients.
  • Osteoporoskollen: A case study examines how digital practices can aid in the host organisation's early identification, risk assessment, and diagnosis of osteoporosis patients.

I will also address the challenges and opportunities I have encountered, such as aligning academic rigour with practical demands, managing time constraints, and building legitimacy for both research and innovation efforts. Preliminary results from the studies will be shared, along with insights into how these roles have shaped the project’s direction. The session will conclude with an outlook on the next steps and the evolving nature of this dual engagement.

About Carl Johan Orre

Carl Johan Orre is a senior lecturer at the Department of Computer Science and Media Technology at Malmö University and serves as the programme leader for the IT and Economics programme. His research predominantly focuses on digital health, investigating how digital tools are integrated into work, with a special emphasis on healthcare contexts where professionals and patients interact with digital resources. He has contributed to research on digital self-management support systems, especially for individuals with type 2 diabetes, and has published on topics such as person-centered care, eHealth, and the design challenges of digital self-management tools.

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