PhD Mandy Scheermesser

ZHAW School of Health Sciences
Institute of Physiotherapy
Katharina-Sulzer-Platz 9
8400 Winterthur

+41 (0) 58 934 63 49
mandy.scheermesser@zhaw.ch

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

Projects

Publications

Articles in scientific journal, peer-reviewed

Reicherzer, L., Scheermesser, M., Kläy, A., Duarte, J., & Graf, E. (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). https://doi.org/10.2196/52676
Scheermesser, M., Baumgartner, D., Nast, I., Bansi, J., Kool, J., Bischof, P., & Bauer, C. (2024). Therapists and patients perceptions of a mixed reality system designed to improve trunk control and upper extremity function. Scientific Reports, 14(6598). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-55692-4
Nast, I., Scheermesser, M., Ernst, M., Sommer, B., Schmid, P. M., Weisenhorn, M., Bärtschi, E., Gomez, D., Iten, P., von Wartburg, A., Frey, W., Lünenburger, L., & Bauer, C. (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), e26931. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26931
Radu, I., Scheermesser, M., Spiess, M. R., Schulze, C., Händler-Schuster, D., & Pehlke-Milde, J. (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), 6962. https://doi.org/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), 81–93. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11569-022-00415-0
Bauer, C. M., Nast, I., Scheermesser, M., Kuster, R. P., Textor, D., Wenger, M., Kool, J., & Baumgartner, D. (2021). A novel assistive therapy chair to improve trunk control during neurorehabilitation : perceptions of physical therapists and patients. Applied Ergonomics, 94(103390). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103390
Scheermesser, M., Reicherzer, L., Beyer, S., Gisi, D., Rezek, S., Hess, T., Wirz, M., & Rausch Osthoff, A.-K. (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, 2337–2350. https://doi.org/10.2147/COPD.S315130
Kahrmann, N., Scheermesser, M., & Rausch, A.-K. (2019). The effect of motivational interviewing on physical activity in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease : systematic review. Physioscience, 15(02), 81–91. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0886-6759
Scheermesser, M., Meidert, U., Evers-Wölk, M., Prieur, Y., Hegyi, S., & Becker, H. K. (2018). Die digitale Selbstvermessung in Lifestyle und Medizin : eine Studie zur Technikfolgenabschätzung. Technikfolgenabschätzung - Theorie und Praxis, 27(3), 57–62. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-4987
Rausch Osthoff, A.-K., Greco, N., Schwank, A., Beyer, S., Gisi, D., Scheermesser, M., Meichtry, A., Sievi, N., Hess, T., & Wirz, M. (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, 115. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-017-0457-8
Scheermesser, M., Bachmann, S., Schämann, A., Oesch, P., & Kool, J. (2012). A qualitative study on the role of cultural background in patients’ perspectives on rehabilitation. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 13(5). https://doi.org/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)]. https://doi.org/10.5445/IR/1000172448
Meidert, U., Scheermesser, M., Prieur, Y., Hegyi, S., Stockinger, K., Eyyi, G., Evers-Wölk, M., Jacob, M., Oertel, B., & Becker, H. K. (2018). Quantified Self : Schnittstelle zwischen Lifestyle und Medizin. vdf Hochschulverlag. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-1941
Becker, H. K., Scheermesser, M., Früh, M., Treusch, Y., Auerbach, H., Hüppi, R. A., & Meier, F. (2013). Robotik in Betreuung und Gesundheitsversorgung (1. Auflage). vdf Hochschulverlag. https://doi.org/10.3218/3521-6

Book chapters, peer-reviewed

Meidert, U., & Scheermesser, M. (2022). Verschiedene Gesundheitskonzepte im Rahmen der digitalen Selbstvermessung. In V. Cappel & K. E. Kappler (eds.), Gesundheit – Konventionen – Digitalisierung : eine politische Ökonomie der (digitalen) Transformationsprozesse von und um Gesundheit (pp. 335–359). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-34306-4_12
Gemperle, M., Scheermesser, M., Dratva, J., Händler-Schuster, D., Juvalta, S., & Klamroth-Marganska, V. (2022). Digitale Heilsversprechen in Gesundheitsberufen. In V. Cappel & K. E. Kappler (eds.), Gesundheit – Konventionen – Digitalisierung : eine politische Ökonomie der (digitalen) Transformationsprozesse von und um Gesundheit (pp. 137–158). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-34306-4_5

Written conference contributions, peer-reviewed

Burget, J. L., Scheermesser, M., Nast, I., & Meichtry, A. (2025). Validierung des deutschsprachigen MRPS-Fragebogens zur Patientenzufriedenheit in der Physiotherapie. Physioswiss Kongress, Basel, Schweiz, 24.-25. Oktober 2025.
Reicherzer, L., Ballmer, T., Scheermesser, M., Quasdorf, T., Domeisen Benedetti, F., Gantschnig, B. E., & Bruderer-Hofstetter, M. (2025). Apps and wearables to support autonomous living : perspectives of Swiss older adults and stakeholders. World Physiotherapy Congress, Tokyo, Japan, 29-31 May 2025.
Reicherzer, L., Scheermesser, M., Kläy, A., Duarte, J. E., & Graf, E. (2023, September). Barriers and facilitators to the use of wearable robots as assistive devices : views and experiences of older adults and physiotherapists. RehabWeek, Singapore, 24-28 September 2023. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-28890
Radu, I., Scheermesser, M., Spiess, M., Schulze, C., Händler-Schuster, D., & Pehlke-Milde, J. (2023, January 21). Digitale Gesundheitsinterventionen für Migrant:innen und kulturellen Minderheiten : ein Scoping Review. 7. Winterthurer Hebammensymposium, Winterthur, Schweiz, 21. Januar 2023.
Kofler, N., Graf, E., Nast, I., Wirz, M., & Scheermesser, M. (2022, July). Robots as therapists : patients’ experiences, motivation and expectations with robot-assisted training - a qualitative study. RehabWeek, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 25-29 July 2022.
Meidert, U., Scheermesser, M., & Becker, H. K. (2018). Quantified Self : Empowerment und Partizipation von Patientinnen und Patienten durch Selbstvermessung? Swiss Congress for Health Professions, Zürich, 3.-4. September 2018.
Scheermesser, M., & Meidert, U. (2018). Exploring quantified self attitudes and practices. SEG-SSE-SAA Annual Meeting «Knowledge (Trans) Formations in Anthropology», Zurich, 22-23 November 2018.
Meidert, U., Becker, H. K., & Scheermesser, M. (2018). M-Health apps and self-quantification technologies on the rise : opportunities and risks for use in practice. World Congress of Occupational Therapy (WFOT), Cape Town, South Africa, 21-25 May 2018.
Scheermesser, M., & Meidert, U. (2018, April 5). Eine Nutzungstypologie der Selbstvermesser/-innen. Dreiländerkongress Gesundheits- und Medizinsoziologie 2018, Graz, Österreich, 5.-6. April 2018.
Brodbeck, D., Degen, M., Stanimirov, M., Kool, J., Scheermesser, M., Oesch, P., & Neuhaus, C. (2009). BACKTRAINER : computer-aided therapy system with augmented feedback for the lower back [Conference paper]. In L. Azevedo & A. Londral (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Informatics : HEALTHINF: Vol. Volume 1 (pp. 66–73). Institute for Systems and Technologies of Information Control and Communication (INSTICC). https://doi.org/10.5220/0001550400660073

Other publications

Reicherzer, L., Scheermesser, M., Ballmer, T., Quasdorf, T., Domeisen Benedetti, F., Gantschnig, B. E., & Bruderer-Hofstetter, M. (2025, September 3). Ageing in place in the digital age : a mixed method evaluation of apps and wearables. 7th Digital Health Lab Day, Winterthur, Switzerland, 3 September 2025. https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-34069
Scheermesser, M., Graf, E., & Wirz, M. (2022). Ramsch und Preziosen : auf dem Weg zur Beurteilung der Qualität von Apps und Wearables für die Physiotherapie. Physioactive, 2022(6), 23–27. https://doi.org/10.5169/seals-1047054
Gemperle, M., Scheermesser, M., Dratva, J., Händler-Schuster, D., Juvalta, S., & Klamroth-Marganska, V. (2020, January 17). Digitale Medien auf dem Prüfstand : eine Befragung unter angehenden Gesundheitsfachpersonen. Dreiländertagung Public Health3: Gesundheitskommunikation im 21. Jahrhundert, Steckborn, 17.-18. Januar 2020.
Nast, I., Mischker, A., Repschläger, U., Heine, M., Scheermesser, M., Wirz, M., & Schämann, A. (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), 69–79. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0602-0947
Scheermesser, M., Becker, H. K., Früh, M., Treusch, Y., Hüppi, R. A., & Meier, F. (2014). Robotics and autonomous devices in health care : a technology assessment study of opportunity and risks [Conference paper]. In T. Michalek, L. Hebakova, L. Hennen, C. Scherz, L. Nierling, & J. Hahn (Eds.), Technology Assessment and Policy Areas of Great Transitions : Proceedings from the PACITA 2013 Conference in Prague (pp. 289–294). Technology Centre ASCR. http://www.pacitaproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Conference-Book.pdf
Nast, I., Allet, L., Bürge, E., Scheermesser, M., Stegen, C. M., & Schämann, A. (2013). Direktzugang zur Physiotherapie : wie entscheiden Schweizer Physiotherapeuten beim Erstkontakt über das weitere Vorgehen? Physioscience, 9(4), 153–160. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0033-1355985
Scheermesser, M., Allet, L., Bürge, E., Stegen, C. M., Nast, I., & Schämann, A. (2011). Direktzugang zur Physiotherapie in der Schweiz : kulturelle Validierung eines Fragebogens und Untersuchung der Einstellung von Physiotherapeuten. Physioscience, 7(4), 143–149. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0031-1281837
Brodbeck, D., Degen, M., Stanimirov, M., Kool, J., Scheermesser, M., Oesch, P., & Neuhaus, C. (2009). Augmented feedback system to support physical therapy of non-specific low back pain [Conference paper]. In A. Fred, J. Filipe, & H. Gamboa (Eds.), Biomedical Engineering Systems and Technologies (pp. 381–393). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11721-3_30
Scheermesser, M., Kosow, H., Rashid, A., & Holtmann, C. (2008). User acceptance of pervasive computing in healthcare: main findings of two case studies. Proceedings of the Second ICST International Conference on Pervasive Computing Technologies for Healthcare. https://doi.org/10.4108/ICST.PERVASIVEHEALTH2008.2539

Oral conference contributions and abstracts

Meidert, U., & Scheermesser, M. (2021, June 28). Quantified self-technologies for better a disease management? 2021 Congress of the Swiss Sociological Association : “Social Justice in Times of Uncertainty”, Geneva, Switzerland (Online), 28-30 June 2021.
Scheermesser, M. (2021, June 28). Acceptance work by non-humans at the development of new technologies : a reconstruction from the actor-network-theory. 2021 Congress of the Swiss Sociological Association : “Social Justice in Times of Uncertainty”, Geneva, Switzerland (Online), 28-30 June 2021.
Scheermesser, M. (2020, August 19). The constitutive work of non-humans at the development of a (self)-tracking technology : a reconstruction from the actor-network-theory. EASST/4S 2020 Conference, Prague, 18-21 August 2020.
Nast, I., Scheermesser, M., Bruderer-Hofstetter, M., Heinzmann Stettler, C. T., Saner-Bissig, J., Wirz, M., & Schämann, A. (2019). Advanced practice in physiotherapy : an actual literature overview. WCPT Congress Proceedings.
Dratva, J., Juvalta, S., Gemperle, M., Scheermesser, M., Händler-Schuster, D., & Klamroth-Marganska, V. (2019). Digital health literacy of health care profession students [Conference presentation]. European Journal of Public Health, 29(Supplement 4), 32–33. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurpub/ckz185.069
Gemperle, M., Scheermesser, M., Dratva, J., Händler-Schuster, D., Juvalta, S., & Klamroth-Marganska, V. (2019). Future health professionals on the use of digital media in their professional work. Congress of the Swiss Sociological Association 2019, Neuchâtel, 10-12 September 2019.
Nast, I., Scheermesser, M., Wirz, M., & Schämann, A. (2019). Who makes the treatment choice? : a randomized controlled trial of a German model of primary care with greater physiotherapists’ autonomy. WCPT Congress Proceedings.
Gemperle, M., Scheermesser, M., Dratva, J., Händler-Schuster, D., Juvalta, S., & Klamroth-Marganska, V. (2019, August 28). Angehende Gesundheitsfachpersonen und ihre Gesundheitskonzepte im Lichte des digitalen Wandels. Dreiländerkongress Gesundheits- und Medizinsoziologie 2019, Winterthur, 27.-28. August 2019.
Gemperle, M., Scheermesser, M., Dratva, J., Händler-Schuster, D., Juvalta, S., & Klamroth-Marganska, V. (2019, May 21). Gesundheitsbezogene digitale Kompetenzen angehender Gesundheitsfachleute. Digitalisierung der Arbeit im Gesundheits- und Sozialsektor, Gelsenkirchen, Deutschland, 21.-22. Mai 2019.
Nast, I., Scheermesser, M., Bruderer-Hofstetter, M., Heinzmann Stettler, C. T., Horvath, C., Huber, M., Keller, M., Müller, U., Saner-Bissig, J., Tschupp, K., & Schämann, A. (2018). Enhancing professional perspectives : development of physiotherapy advanced practice models in Switzerland. 1st International Conference: «Countering Staff Shortage among Health Professions», Bern, 25-26 Oktober 2018.
Meidert, U., Scheermesser, M., & Becker, H. K. (2018). Partizipation von Patientinnen und Patienten durch Selbstvermessung? Swiss eHealth Summit «Patients Leading the Digital Transformation», Bern, 12. September 2018.
Scheermesser, M., & Meidert, U. (2017, September 16). Gesundheitsapps und Fitnesstracker – Was taugen sie in der Praxis? Symposium Technologien in der Therapie «Vom Smartphone bis zur Robotik», Winterthur, 16. September 2017.
Meidert, U., & Scheermesser, M. (2017, June 24). Quantified self : Gesundheitsoptimierung durch Selbstvermessung. Schweizer Soziologiekongress, Zürich, 21.-23. Juni 2017.
Scheermesser, M. (2013). Robotics and autonomous devices in health care : a technology assessment study. PACITA 2013 Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 13-15 March 2013.
Nast, I., Allet, L., Scheermesser, M., Stegen, C. M., Bürge, E., & Schämann, A. (2012). Direkt zur Physiotherapie? : Vorgehen Schweizer Physiotherapeutinnen und -therapeuten im Fall des Direktzugangs. Swiss Congress for Health Professions, Winterthur, 31. Mai - 1. Juni 2012.
Scheermesser, M., Kool, J., Oesch, P., Schämann, A., & Bachmann, S. (2009). Rehabilitation of low back pain in patients with a Southeast European cultural background : patient’s perspectives on rehabilitation using a constructivist approach [Conference presentation]. Swiss Medical Weekly, 139(Suppl 169).

Publications before appointment at the ZHAW

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