PhD Mandy Scheermesser

Work at ZHAW

Position

• Research Associate, School of Health Sciences, Institute of Physiotherapy
• Member of the Personnel Committee at the School of Health Sciences

Focus

• digital health technologies, i.e. electronic patient dossier, artificial intelligence, robotics, apps, telehealth, virtual reality
• Research in Social Sciences and Technology
• Actor-network-theory
• qualitative and quantitative research methods

Teaching

• MSc Physiotherapy
• MSc Interprofessional, Modul «Qualitative Research»
• Bsc interprofessional education

Experience

• Research Associate
  School of Health Sciences, Institute of Physiotherapy
  04 / 2008 - today
• Research Associate
  Institute for Futures Studies and Technology Assessment, Berlin (IZT)
  01 / 2001 - 03 / 2008

Education and Continuing education

Education

• PhD / Technology Asssessment
  Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
  03 / 2020 - 12 / 2023
• M.A. / Social Sciences
  Humboldt University of Berlin
  10 / 1995 - 12 / 2000

Continuing Education

CAS Higher & Professional Education
Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning, ZHAW School of Management and Law
09 / 2023

Network

ORCID digital identifier

ORCID ID: 0000-0002-9765-7329

Social media

LinkedIn

Projects

• Reusing Openly Accessible research Data for Student theses / Team member / ongoing
• HoloTeach – a virtual therapy guidance system for personalized rehabilitation after stroke / Deputy project leader / ongoing
• Ethical dimensions of digital technology-assisted physiotherapy: fundamentals for ethics education of physiotherapists / Co-project leader / ongoing
• Autonomous Ageing at home in the digital age: A mixed method evaluation of assistive apps and wearables / Team member / completed
• Reusing Openly Accessible research Data for Student theses / Team member / completed
• Definition and validation of use cases for the application of the MyoSuit / Team member / completed
• Holoreach / Team member / completed
• Wearables & Apps for mental health / Deputy project leader / completed
• Digital Health for parents facing language and cultural access barriers to the Swiss health system / Co-project leader / completed
• The Social Integration of People with Chronic Diseases Through Quantified Self Technologies / Project leader / completed
• T-Chair II – Assistive therapy concept for trunk balance & stability after stroke / Team member / completed
• Valedo Neck Therapy / Team member / completed
• Quantified self – halfway between lifestyle and medicine / Team member / completed
• Research evidence to support the work of the professional association / Team member / completed
• Experience keep people Active / Team member / completed
• 2PCS – Personal Caring and Protection System / Team member / completed
• Robotics and autonomous devices in social and health care / Deputy project leader / completed
• Educational Activities for Health Professionals / Project leader / completed
• Direct Access to Physiotherapy in Switzerland / Team member / completed
• Cultural factors on the rehabilitation of back pain / Team member / completed

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

• Reicherzer, L. et al. (2024) 'Barriers and facilitators to the use of wearable robots as assistive devices : qualitative study with older adults and physiotherapists', JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies, 11(e52676). doi: 10.2196/52676.
• Scheermesser, M. et al. (2024) 'Therapists and patients perceptions of a mixed reality system designed to improve trunk control and upper extremity function', Scientific Reports, 14(6598). doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-55692-4.
• Nast, I. et al. (2024) 'Usability of a visual feedback system to assess and improve movement disorders related to neck pain : perceptions of physical therapists and patients', Heliyon, 10(5), p. e26931. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26931.
• Radu, I. et al. (2023) 'Digital health for migrants, ethnic and cultural minorities and the role of participatory development : a scoping review', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(20), p. 6962. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20206962.
• Scheermesser, M. (2022) 'The pivotal function of non-human actors in the acceptability of the body technology, Actibelt® : a reconstruction based on actor-network-theory', Nanoethics, 2022(16), pp. 81–93. doi: 10.1007/s11569-022-00415-0.
• Bauer, C. M. et al. (2021) 'A novel assistive therapy chair to improve trunk control during neurorehabilitation : perceptions of physical therapists and patients', Applied Ergonomics, 94(103390). doi: 10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103390.
• Scheermesser, M. et al. (2021) 'The influence of pulmonary rehabilitation and counselling on perceptions of physical activity in individuals with COPD : a qualitative study', International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, 16, pp. 2337–2350. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S315130.
• Kahrmann, N., Scheermesser, M. and Rausch, A.-K. (2019) 'The effect of motivational interviewing on physical activity in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease : systematic review', Physioscience, 15(02), pp. 81–91. doi: 10.1055/a-0886-6759.
• Scheermesser, M. et al. (2018) 'Die digitale Selbstvermessung in Lifestyle und Medizin : eine Studie zur Technikfolgenabschätzung', Technikfolgenabschätzung - Theorie und Praxis, 27(3), pp. 57–62. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-4987.
• Rausch Osthoff, A.-K. et al. (2017) 'Effect of counselling during pulmonary rehabilitation on self-determined motivation towards physical activity in people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – protocol of a mixed methods study', BMC Pulmonary Medicine, p. 115. doi: 10.1186/s12890-017-0457-8.
• Scheermesser, M. et al. (2012) 'A qualitative study on the role of cultural background in patients" perspectives on rehabilitation', BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 13(5). doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-13-5.

Books, peer-reviewed

• Scheermesser, M. (2024) Der Beitrag nicht-menschlicher Entitäten zur Akzeptanz von Technologien am Beispiel des Bewegungsmessers "actibelt" : eine Rekonstruktion aus der Perspektive der Akteur-Netzwerk-Theorie. Doctoral dissertation. Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (KIT). doi: 10.5445/IR/1000172448.
• Meidert, U. et al. (2018) Quantified Self : Schnittstelle zwischen Lifestyle und Medizin. Zürich: vdf Hochschulverlag. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-1941.
• Becker, H. K. et al. (2013) Robotik in Betreuung und Gesundheitsversorgung. 1. Auflage. Zürich: vdf Hochschulverlag. doi: 10.3218/3521-6.

Book chapters, peer-reviewed

• Meidert, U. and Scheermesser, M. (2022) 'Verschiedene Gesundheitskonzepte im Rahmen der digitalen Selbstvermessung', in Cappel, V. and Kappler, K. E. (eds) Gesundheit – Konventionen – Digitalisierung : eine politische Ökonomie der (digitalen) Transformationsprozesse von und um Gesundheit. Wiesbaden: Springer, pp. 335–359. doi: 10.1007/978-3-658-34306-4_12.
• Gemperle, M. et al. (2022) 'Digitale Heilsversprechen in Gesundheitsberufen', in Cappel, V. and Kappler, K. E. (eds) Gesundheit – Konventionen – Digitalisierung : eine politische Ökonomie der (digitalen) Transformationsprozesse von und um Gesundheit. Wiesbaden: Springer, pp. 137–158. doi: 10.1007/978-3-658-34306-4_5.

Written conference contributions, peer-reviewed

• Burget, J. L. et al. (2025) 'Validierung des deutschsprachigen MRPS-Fragebogens zur Patientenzufriedenheit in der Physiotherapie', in Physioswiss Kongress, Basel, Schweiz, 24.-25. Oktober 2025.
• Reicherzer, L. et al. (2025) 'Apps and wearables to support autonomous living : perspectives of Swiss older adults and stakeholders', in World Physiotherapy Congress, Tokyo, Japan, 29-31 May 2025.
• Reicherzer, L. et al. (2023) 'Barriers and facilitators to the use of wearable robots as assistive devices : views and experiences of older adults and physiotherapists', in RehabWeek, Singapore, 24-28 September 2023. Winterthur: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-28890.
• Radu, I. et al. (2023) 'Digitale Gesundheitsinterventionen für Migrant:innen und kulturellen Minderheiten : ein Scoping Review', in 7. Winterthurer Hebammensymposium, Winterthur, Schweiz, 21. Januar 2023.
• Kofler, N. et al. (2022) 'Robots as therapists : patients" experiences, motivation and expectations with robot-assisted training - a qualitative study', in RehabWeek, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 25-29 July 2022.
• Meidert, U., Scheermesser, M. and Becker, H. K. (2018) 'Quantified Self : Empowerment und Partizipation von Patientinnen und Patienten durch Selbstvermessung?', in Swiss Congress for Health Professions, Zürich, 3.-4. September 2018.
• Meidert, U., Becker, H. K. and Scheermesser, M. (2018) 'M-Health apps and self-quantification technologies on the rise : opportunities and risks for use in practice', in World Congress of Occupational Therapy (WFOT), Cape Town, South Africa, 21-25 May 2018.
• Scheermesser, M. and Meidert, U. (2018) 'Exploring quantified self attitudes and practices', in SEG-SSE-SAA Annual Meeting «Knowledge (Trans) Formations in Anthropology», Zurich, 22-23 November 2018.
• Scheermesser, M. and Meidert, U. (2018) 'Eine Nutzungstypologie der Selbstvermesser/-innen', in Dreiländerkongress Gesundheits- und Medizinsoziologie 2018, Graz, Österreich, 5.-6. April 2018.
• Brodbeck, D. et al. (2009) 'BACKTRAINER : computer-aided therapy system with augmented feedback for the lower back', in Azevedo, L. and Londral, A. (eds) Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Informatics : HEALTHINF. Institute for Systems and Technologies of Information Control and Communication (INSTICC), pp. 66–73. doi: 10.5220/0001550400660073.

Other publications

• Reicherzer, L. et al. (2025) 'Ageing in place in the digital age : a mixed method evaluation of apps and wearables', in 7th Digital Health Lab Day, Winterthur, Switzerland, 3 September 2025. Winterthur: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften. doi: 10.21256/zhaw-34069.
• Scheermesser, M., Graf, E. and Wirz, M. (2022) 'Ramsch und Preziosen : auf dem Weg zur Beurteilung der Qualität von Apps und Wearables für die Physiotherapie', Physioactive, 2022(6), pp. 23–27. doi: 10.5169/seals-1047054.
• Gemperle, M. et al. (2020) 'Digitale Medien auf dem Prüfstand : eine Befragung unter angehenden Gesundheitsfachpersonen', in Dreiländertagung Public Health3: Gesundheitskommunikation im 21. Jahrhundert, Steckborn, 17.-18. Januar 2020.
• Nast, I. et al. (2018) 'Das Modellvorhaben Physiotherapie der BIG direkt gesund und des IFK e. V. : welche Heilmittel wählen Physiotherapeuten bei Unabhängigkeit von der ärztlichen Verordnung?', Physioscience, 14(2), pp. 69–79. doi: 10.1055/a-0602-0947.
• Scheermesser, M. et al. (2014) 'Robotics and autonomous devices in health care : a technology assessment study of opportunity and risks', in Michalek, T. et al. (eds) Technology Assessment and Policy Areas of Great Transitions : Proceedings from the PACITA 2013 Conference in Prague. Prague: Technology Centre ASCR, pp. 289–294. Available at: http://www.pacitaproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Conference-Book.pdf.
• Nast, I. et al. (2013) 'Direktzugang zur Physiotherapie : wie entscheiden Schweizer Physiotherapeuten beim Erstkontakt über das weitere Vorgehen?', Physioscience, 9(4), pp. 153–160. doi: 10.1055/s-0033-1355985.
• Scheermesser, M. et al. (2011) 'Direktzugang zur Physiotherapie in der Schweiz : kulturelle Validierung eines Fragebogens und Untersuchung der Einstellung von Physiotherapeuten', Physioscience, 7(4), pp. 143–149. doi: 10.1055/s-0031-1281837.
• Brodbeck, D. et al. (2009) 'Augmented feedback system to support physical therapy of non-specific low back pain', in Fred, A., Filipe, J., and Gamboa, H. (eds) Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies. Berlin: Springer, pp. 381–393. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-11721-3_30.
• Scheermesser, M. et al. (2008) 'User acceptance of pervasive computing in healthcare: main findings of two case studies', in Proceedings of the second ICST international conference on pervasive computing technologies for healthcare. ICST. doi: 10.4108/ICST.PERVASIVEHEALTH2008.2539.

Oral conference contributions and abstracts

• Meidert, U. and Scheermesser, M. (2021) 'Quantified self-technologies for better a disease management?', in 2021 Congress of the Swiss Sociological Association : 'Social Justice in Times of Uncertainty', Geneva, Switzerland (online), 28-30 June 2021.
• Scheermesser, M. (2021) 'Acceptance work by non-humans at the development of new technologies : a reconstruction from the actor-network-theory', in 2021 Congress of the Swiss Sociological Association : 'Social Justice in Times of Uncertainty', Geneva, Switzerland (online), 28-30 June 2021.
• Scheermesser, M. (2020) 'The constitutive work of non-humans at the development of a (self)-tracking technology : a reconstruction from the actor-network-theory', in EASST/4S 2020 Conference, Prague, 18-21 August 2020.
• Dratva, J. et al. (2019) 'Digital health literacy of health care profession students', in European Journal of Public Health. Oxford University Press, pp. 32–33. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckz185.069.
• Nast, I. et al. (2019) 'Advanced practice in physiotherapy : an actual literature overview', in WCPT Congress Proceedings.
• Nast, I. et al. (2019) 'Who makes the treatment choice? : a randomized controlled trial of a German model of primary care with greater physiotherapists' autonomy', in WCPT Congress Proceedings.
• Gemperle, M. et al. (2019) 'Future health professionals on the use of digital media in their professional work', in Congress of the Swiss Sociological Association 2019, Neuchâtel, 10-12 September 2019.
• Gemperle, M. et al. (2019) 'Angehende Gesundheitsfachpersonen und ihre Gesundheitskonzepte im Lichte des digitalen Wandels', in Dreiländerkongress Gesundheits- und Medizinsoziologie 2019, Winterthur, 27.-28. August 2019.
• Gemperle, M. et al. (2019) 'Gesundheitsbezogene digitale Kompetenzen angehender Gesundheitsfachleute', in Digitalisierung der Arbeit im Gesundheits- und Sozialsektor, Gelsenkirchen, Deutschland, 21.-22. Mai 2019.
• Meidert, U., Scheermesser, M. and Becker, H. K. (2018) 'Partizipation von Patientinnen und Patienten durch Selbstvermessung?', in Swiss eHealth Summit «Patients Leading the Digital Transformation», Bern, 12. September 2018.
• Nast, I. et al. (2018) 'Enhancing professional perspectives : development of physiotherapy advanced practice models in Switzerland', in 1st International Conference: «Countering Staff Shortage Among Health Professions», Bern, 25-26 Oktober 2018.
• Scheermesser, M. and Meidert, U. (2017) 'Gesundheitsapps und Fitnesstracker – Was taugen sie in der Praxis?', in Symposium Technologien in der Therapie «Vom Smartphone bis zur Robotik», Winterthur, 16. September 2017. Winterthur: ZHAW Zürcher Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften.
• Meidert, U. and Scheermesser, M. (2017) 'Quantified self : Gesundheitsoptimierung durch Selbstvermessung', in Schweizer Soziologiekongress, Zürich, 21.-23. Juni 2017.
• Scheermesser, M. (2013) 'Robotics and autonomous devices in health care : a technology assessment study', in PACITA 2013 Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 13-15 March 2013. Technology Centre ASCR.
• Nast, I. et al. (2012) 'Direkt zur Physiotherapie? : Vorgehen Schweizer Physiotherapeutinnen und -therapeuten im Fall des Direktzugangs', in Swiss Congress for Health Professions, Winterthur, 31. Mai - 1. Juni 2012.
• Scheermesser, M. et al. (2009) 'Rehabilitation of low back pain in patients with a Southeast European cultural background : patient's perspectives on rehabilitation using a constructivist approach', in Swiss Medical Weekly. EMH Swiss Medical Publishers.

Publications before appointment at the ZHAW

• Orwat, Carsten; Rashid, Asarnusch; Wölk, Michaela; Scheermesser, Mandy; Kosow, Hannah; Holtmann, Carsten; Graefe, Andreas, 2010. Adopting pervasiv computing for routine use in healthcare. IEEE Pervasive Computing. 9(2), S. 64-71.
• Hahn, Tobias; Scheermesser, Mandy, 2006. Approaches to corporate sustainability among german companies. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 13(3), S. 150-165.
• Scheermesser, Mandy; Kosow, Hannah; Rashid, Asarnusch; Holtmann, Carsten, 2008. User acceptance of pervasive computing in healthcare : main findings of two case studies [Paper]. In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare 2008 : PervasiveHealth. 2nd International Conference on Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare 2008 : PervasiveHealth, Tampere, 30. Jan-1. Feb 2008, S. 205-213. New York: IEEE.

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