Projects

TiPPrevention promotes the systematic integration and scaling of brief preventive brief counselling in primary care. Through these evidence-based conversations, health professionals can prevent chronic diseases by supporting healthy behavior change.

Using a participatory Implementation Science approach, the project team has been developing a modular e-learning program for general practices, home-care teams (Spitex), and school health services. The program builds practical skills in preventive counselling—currently focused on physical-activity promotion -and supports strategies for the sustainable implementation of these practices by teams or individual professionals.

The program is continuously evaluated for feasibility, acceptability, normalization, and scaling. Early results show high satisfaction with its relevance and usability of the program, while time and staffing constraints remain key challenges. Flexible implementation strategies are therefore being developed together with practice teams.

Why it matters: TiPPrevention offers an accessible, evidence-based learning environment that empowers professionals to integrate prevention into daily routines. Its digital design enables flexible use and scaling - contributing to a stronger, more sustainable impact on public health.

Project lead: Dunja Nicca
Funding: Gesundheitsdirektion Kanton Zürich

With the Organizational Health Literacy Self-Assessment Tool (OHL Self-AsseT), teams in primary health care—such as general practices and home-care organizations—are supported in assessing and systematically strengthening their organizational health literacy. High health literacy within organizations helps both patients and employees make informed decisions and better promote their health.

Since 2019, the project team has been developing and evaluating the OHL Self-AsseT, a practical self-assessment tool that enables professionals to identify strengths and areas for development, plan concrete improvement measures, and implement them in daily teamwork. Results show high acceptance of the tool and positive effects on teamwork and leadership competencies.

The tool is currently being further evaluated in home-care organizations using a hybrid effectiveness–implementation design. The evaluation examines its effectiveness in strengthening both organizational and individual health literacy, complemented by outcomes related to the normalization and scaling of the intervention.

Why it matters: The OHL Self-AsseT provides organizations with a research-based, flexible instrument to structurally anchor health literacy. Repeated use makes progress visible and enables sustainable improvements—toward a health-literate care system that benefits everyone.

Project lead: Dunja Nicca (UZH) and Saskia DeGani (Careum)
Funding: Gesundheitsförderung Schweiz, Gesundheitsdirektion Kanton Zürich; Stiftung Pflegewissenschaft Schweiz

Around half of the Swiss population has difficulties understanding and using health-related information. In addition, many patients find it hard to remember all the information discussed during medical consultations. The Outpatient “Patient Letter” project therefore develops a digital solution that enables physicians to provide patients with an individualized, clearly worded letter immediately after their consultation.

With just a few clicks, a patient letter in plain language is generated, summarizing the most important topics of the consultation. It supports patients with chronic back pain in better understanding what was discussed, making informed decisions, and implementing treatment recommendations in their daily lives, thereby strengthening their health literacy.

This four-year project is carried out in collaboration with the Health Department of the Canton of Zurich, the Institute of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention (University of Zurich), the Careum Foundation (Center for Health Literacy), and the German organization “Was hab’ ich?” gGmbH. The Spine Center of the University Hospital Balgrist supports the project as a practice partner in the development, piloting, and evaluation of the intervention and its implementation outcomes.

Why it matters: The Patient Letter helps make medical information easier to understand and sustainably strengthens health literacy—promoting greater self-efficacy and better health outcomes.

Project lead: Dunja Nicca (UZH); Saskia DeGani, (Careum)
Funding: Gesundheitsdirektion Zürich, Gesundheitsförderung Schweiz, Careum Foundation

Using a practice-development approach, we assessed the experiences of both travelers and professionals regarding sexual health during travel, as well as their needs in relation to pre-travel counselling. Based on this, we developed a theory of change (TOC) with strategies to improve information delivery, behavioral change, and access to HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for travelers. The TOC also aims to strengthen counselling of professionals and guide the implementation of these interventions in the center for travel medicine at the University of Zurich. We are currently evaluating implementation outcomes, focusing on the normalization and sustainment of the new counselling practices.

Why it matters: During travel, sexual health needs can change. Integrating sexual health into pre-travel counselling provides an opportunity to reduce stigma and to deliver evidence-based counselling, including information on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Project lead: Dunja Nicca, PhD and Benjamin Hampel, MD
Funding: Gilead Sciences

We are conducting a qualitative study with semi-structured interviews to gain insights into travelers’ experiences, and perceptions of health while visiting friends and relatives in sub-Saharan Africa. We also assessed their needs regarding pre-travel medical services. Such data can inform development and adoption of pre-travel services.

Why it matters: Travelers visiting friends and relatives often have distinct circumstances compared to tourist travelers and may require tailored services to support optimal health decisions.

Project lead: Dunja Nicca (UZH), Maria Wyss (UZH)