With additional funding from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the World Mosquito Program (WMP), the project is taking place in four cities: West Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang, and Kupang. 

Previously, the Wolbachia project was conducted in Bontang and is scheduled for completion in early 2025.

The funding provided by DFAT is said to support the project’s expansion to new areas in the four cities next year. 

“This funding is complementary, supplementing the state budget (APBN) that has already been allocated. This money will be used to complete the project in these four cities next year,” explained Dr. Riris Andono Ahmad, Director of PKT UGM, on Monday (Dec. 16).

The additional funding from DFAT is channeled through the Partnership for Healthy Region Initiative scheme, which aims to support the sustainability of the Wolbachia-based dengue control program. 

Bekti Andari, WMP Asia Project Manager for Communication & Engagement, stated that the pilot project implementation of Wolbachia technology in five cities has been progressing well. However, some activities could be improved with additional funding support. 

“The funding from DFAT is used to fill the gap in the activities that have been outlined,” she said.

Further, Andari explained that the DFAT funding had been allocated for specific activities, including project management, community engagement, consumables, bucket placement and monitoring, data and mapping management, mosquito egg production at Udayana University, and cross-sectoral issues using the GEDSI approach (gender equality, disability, and social inclusion). 

“We must ensure that this program also benefits vulnerable communities,” she added.

The DFAT funding complements the government budget funds that were previously used. 

This is certainly good news for the pilot project initiated by the Ministry of Health with the support of PKT UGM, which is expected to be a complementary method for reducing the number of DBD cases in Indonesia, especially in areas where the project is being implemented.

Author: Lintang  

Editor: Gusti Grehenson

Artikel Fighting DBD, UGM Applies Wolbachia Technology in Four Major Cities pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Now ready for mass production, this innovation is set to support healthcare services, particularly in medical screenings, medical check-ups (MCUs), emergency services (extremities), and diagnostics. 

Professor Suparta has been researching RSFD since 1990, even before the rapid advancement of computer and internet technologies. 

With funding from various research schemes supported by the Ministry of Research and Technology, intensive RSFD research began in 2000 at the Department of Physics, FMIPA UGM, involving students and research partners.  

“Hopefully, this tool can inspire UGM researchers because the process of commercializing research results is incredibly challenging, costly, time-consuming, and exhausting,” he reflected on Monday (Nov. 28).  

The RSFD technology, now branded as DDR Madeena, stands for Direct Digital Radiography, with “Madeena” representing the spirit of Made-in-Indonesia. 

Professor Suparta recounted the licensing challenges during DDR Madeena’s commercialization process amid the COVID-19 pandemic through the TFRIC-19 program in 2021. 

“In 2020, RSFD was included among 40 technologies to mitigate COVID-19 risks. However, its downstream process was delayed when BPPT merged into the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) in 2022,” he explained.  

Since 2022, DDR Madeena’s commercialization has been continued by PT Madeena Karya Indonesia, which secured a distribution permit as a domestic medical device (AKD) from the Ministry of Health (No. 21501220581, issued on Nov. 17, 2022) for its Medical Image Digitizer (MMD) product, under the trade name Madeena X-Ray Medical Diagnostic Equipment. 

Additionally, DDR Madeena has earned a Domestic Content Level (TKDN) certificate with a score of 57.62% and is listed in the national e-catalog. Thus, government-funded procurements (APBN, APBD, or other public funds) are mandated to purchase this product.  

“With this achievement, my duty as an academic and researcher to oversee the commercialization of research results is complete,” Professor Suparta remarked.  

To enhance user confidence, beta testing, and teleradiology were conducted to validate the quality of the domestically produced device against international standards. 

PT Madeena Karya Indonesia facilitated beta testing involving human volunteers at the Pratama Clinic, managed by the Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha (FK Undiksha), Singaraja, Bali. 

Results confirmed that DDR Madeena successfully generated readable thorax and extremities radiographic images, earning FK Undiksha’s recommendation for safe use in hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and clinics.  

The DDR Madeena’s comprehensive features include lead knock-down room radiation protection, a DICOM viewer, a PACS archiving system, and teleradiology capabilities. These enable radiologists to transmit and read radiographic images remotely. 

This aligns with Indonesia’s digital health transformation goals outlined in Health Law No. 17 of 2023 and Government Regulation No. 24 of 2024.  

“This tool significantly enhances accessible healthcare services across the country, provided there is internet and cloud data storage connectivity,” Professor Suparta stated.  

The system, developed by PT Madeena Karya Indonesia and branded as the Madeena Health Care System (MHCS), aims to optimize Indonesia’s limited 2,200 radiologists. The MHCS system could eventually adopt AI-based diagnostic tools. 

Professor Suparta expressed hope for the government’s commitment to supporting domestic products like DDR Madeena through gradual production, continuous monitoring, and improvements.  

“The device supports health screenings, MCUs, emergency services, and diagnoses of TB, chronic pulmonary diseases (COPD), and cancer. It may also be used for pediatric examinations, such as assessing physical growth in stunted children,” he explained.  

Professor Suparta encouraged companies and organizations concerned with public health to participate in DDR Madeena’s production and installation through health-focused Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs or joint radiography service ventures in clinics and hospitals. 

“Hopefully, UGM can develop more progressive and disruptive strategies to ensure academic research translates into societal applications, driving the national economy,” he concluded.  

Author: Triya Andriyani  

Artikel DDR Madeena: UGM Researchers’ Digital Radiography Innovation Ready for Mass Production pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The EMO-vest team consists of Frengki Prabowo Saputro Wijayanto, Artha Maressa Theodora Simanjuntak (Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing/FK-KMK UGM), Muhammad Raihan Tsani, Gamma Nasim (Faculty of Engineering/FT UGM), and Haydar Amru Revanda (Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences/FMIPA UGM). 

The EMO-vest team, guided by Dr. Noor Akhmad Setiawan, received funding from the Ministry of Education.

Frengki Prabowo Saputro Wijayanto, the team leader, explained that the development of this device stems from the high incidence of death among epilepsy patients during seizures. He recounted witnessing an epileptic episode before starting university, where he saw a man fall and have a continuous seizure. 

“I felt panicked and had no knowledge of first aid at that time,” Wijayanto said at UGM on Thursday (Jul. 18).

According to articles he read, Wijayanto added if epilepsy patients do not receive immediate assistance during a seizure, it could result in death due to a lack of oxygen supply, leading to heart complications. 

“Currently, epilepsy cannot be cured but can be managed with Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AEDs) to minimize the frequency of seizures,” Wijayanto explained.

Gamma Nasim, a team member, mentioned that with the development and use of EMO-vest, epilepsy patients can travel independently without worry. 

As the person responsible for designing the electronic system and all sensors in the EMO-vest device, he explained that the vest will detect when the patient falls and experiences a seizure.

The device will then send an SMS containing the patient’s location information. This information is also sent via SMS, WhatsApp, and phone calls. 

“Additionally, the EMO-vest will emit a sound indicating that the patient is in an emergency and needs to be taken to the hospital immediately,” Nasim elaborated.

Muhammad Raihan Tsani added that the EMO-vest also has an automatically inflated airbag that deploys before the user falls. This airbag will protect the user’s body, especially vital areas. 

“Moreover, there is a first aid guide for epilepsy located in the vest’s pocket,” Tsani, responsible for the airbag system, said.

EMO-vest has a social media presence on Instagram, X/Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube. One of their usernames is @pkmkcugm_emovest on Instagram, where users can visit to learn more about the device.

“On our social media, we provide information about epilepsy and its classifications, the dangers of epilepsy, and details about the device. We also update our progress weekly on Instagram. The link to other social media platforms is available in our Instagram bio,” said Artha Maressa Theodora Simanjuntak, the team member responsible for social media and testing the device on simulated patients.

Simanjuntak noted that the team of five students from various disciplines faced some challenges, including scheduling conflicts and busy activities outside the PKM-KC project. 

“We had to find time to meet and discuss,” she said.

Haydar Amru Revanda echoed similar sentiments, mentioning that the main issue was the lack of direct meeting time due to different faculty schedules and personal commitments. 

“Despite this, we always meet at least once a week to discuss our device’s progress,” said Revanda, who is responsible for the SMS, GPS modules, and component assembly.

This project is hoped to advance science and technology, particularly in the medical field, and to assist epilepsy patients in Indonesia.

With this device, the EMO-vest team aims to contribute to sustainable development, particularly concerning SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).

Author: Agung Nugroho

Contributor: UGM EMO-vest Team

Artikel UGM Students Develop EMO-vest: A Protective Device for Epilepsy Patients pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

UGM students created the ARTERI device due to the problems arising from the current conditions where monitoring oxygen saturation and blood pressure in stroke patients is limited to specialized medical equipment that is often only available in healthcare facilities.

Angelia Grace, a UGM Biomedical Engineering student, explained that the device’s development started from concerns for stroke patients, including limited time, the need for accompaniment from physiotherapists, the limited availability of physiotherapists who are sometimes unavailable or suddenly change schedules, and the high cost of physiotherapy.

Meanwhile, stroke therapy evaluation has generally been highly dependent on subjective observation and visual examination by therapists. Given this, she believes there is a need for a more objective and measurable evaluation method to identify patient progress and determine therapy effectiveness more accurately, equipped with real-time therapy data to assist medical personnel and patients.

“Therefore, the five of us sought to find a solution by creating a stroke therapy device integrated with a mobile application to address these issues,” said Grace at the UGM campus on Monday (Jul. 15).

In addition to Grace, the other four UGM students who helped create this device are Bayu Ari Wandyka, Ferhad Zulfas (Instrumentation and Control Engineering Technology), Novy Pratama Andriani (Heavy Equipment Management and Maintenance Engineering), and Ganang Fattahuddien Attar (Medicine). 

They received guidance and mentorship from Maun Budiyanto and funding support from the Ministry of Education through the Student Creativity Program in Intellectual Creation (PKM-KC).

Ganang Fattahuddien Attar stated that his team chose to monitor oxygen saturation and blood pressure because oxygen saturation represents the adequacy of oxygen in the body to determine appropriate therapy, while blood pressure triggers blood vessel rupture in the brain. This is similar to stroke, which involves blockage and rupture of blood vessels in the brain.

“The relationship between blood pressure and oxygen saturation with stroke is that reduced oxygen supply to stroke-affected tissues, especially in ischemic stroke, can cause hypoxia. A person with a stroke will have their breathing evaluated because of the risk of hypoxia, which can affect brain cells,” said Attar.

Therefore, oxygen saturation must be controlled because it is closely related to the oxygen supply necessary for brain survival. Meanwhile, blood pressure greatly influences the occurrence of hemorrhagic stroke. Prolonged hypertension also causes disturbances in the elasticity of the small arterial walls, leading to rupture.

“Therefore, maintaining blood pressure in stroke patients is very important to prevent ongoing brain damage,” Attar said.

Ferhad Zulfas added that the process of creating this therapeutic device uses materials such as NodeMCU ESP32, MAX30100 sensor, MPX 2050 sensor, servo, switch, Li-Po battery, battery casing, port cable, jumper cable, AWG 24 cable, fuse, acrylic, aluminum plate, glue, LED lights, flex sensor, DC converter, PLA+ filament, and medical velcro.

Bayu Ari Wandyka explained that the device works when the therapy command is activated through the ARTERI application, which is integrated with IoT. The servo will move up and down according to the four-level settings in the application, based on a 30–40-degree angle. 

It uses several sensors to read oxygen saturation and blood pressure in patients, which utilize the sensor’s conductivity and will be converted into ppm units.

Once the oxygen saturation, heart rate, and blood pressure readings are obtained, they are sent to the cloud server for access using a laptop or smartphone. The ARTERI application has several features, including test results, progress graphs, tutorial videos, medical records, and settings.

“Thus, ARTERI is expected to help the community monitor and improve stroke therapy effectiveness, enabling more personalized and adaptive care based on individual patient responses and early prevention or handling of conditions to prevent complications arising from lack of oxygen or high blood pressure,” said Wandyka.

Prioritizing health procedures, Novy Pratama Andriani stated that this innovation is expected to be a tangible contribution and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a concept agreed upon by world leaders, especially point 3 (good health and well-being). 

The ARTERI device is also expected to encourage the use of photoacoustics for further technological advancements in the health sector.

Author: Novy Pratama Andriani

Editor: Agung Nugroho

Photo: Arteri Team Documentation

Artikel UGM Students Develop ARTERI, Tool for Monitoring and Improving Stroke Therapy Effectiveness pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

This heart stent research began in 2013 and has already received a patent for the design and material of the stent prototype. 

This innovative health product involves 40 researchers, including faculty and students. It is currently being tested on larger animals following previous tests on smaller animals. 

If successful and without significant issues, the product will move on to human clinical trials for patients with a history of heart disease. 

“If there are no problems, we aim to start clinical trials next year,” said Professor Widowati Siswomihardjo, one of the researchers, after presenting the results to the Asian Development Bank’s Board of Directors during their recent visit to UGM.

Professor Widowati explained that the heart stent research has been lengthy due to the extensive initial process of creating the prototype and selecting the materials for the stent, which involved interdisciplinary researchers. 

“We can now say that we have two research innovations related to the metal stent material, which has been patented as the first-generation stent, and for the next generation, related to drug-eluting stents,” said the professor from the UGM Faculty of Dentistry (FKG UGM).

Regarding the prospects of mass production for this innovative product, Professor Widowati acknowledged that she is not rushing to meet this target due to the time required for the clinical trial stages. 

“The process is very challenging, and so far the results have been good,” she explained.

Professor Widowati emphasized that if the product successfully passes clinical trials and obtains approval for circulation, it is expected to be competitive with imported products. 

“It should be cheaper and covered by BPJS (the Indonesian National Health Insurance),” she concluded.

Author: Gusti Grehenson

Artikel UGM’s Heart Stent Innovation Ready for Clinical Trials pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

This initiative aims to create a breakthrough in healthcare services by combining RSA UGM’s excellent medical services with Sheraton’s five-star hotel facilities. This service package offers comfort to tourists by including hotel amenities and supporting tourism accommodations.

This collaboration was highlighted during the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between RSA UGM and Sheraton Mustika Resort and Spa at RSA UGM on Tuesday (May 21). 

Dr. Darwito, the President Director of RSA UGM, and I Gede Sujana, the General Manager of Sheraton Mustika Resort and Spa, conducted the signing ceremony.

Dr. Darwito hopes that RSA UGM can become a pioneer in health tourism and wellness services in Yogyakarta, given that RSA UGM is already supported by quality medical personnel, adequate infrastructure, and advanced medical facilities. 

“We may excel in medicine, but that is not enough. Every post-operative patient still needs therapy. A different approach is needed during this therapy,” said Dr. Darwito.

“So, during therapy, they can choose to stay at Sheraton with support from RSA UGM without having to return to their place of origin because staying in the hospital continuously would be very stressful. A happy patient has a high probability of recovery.”

Dr. Darwito added that the effort to integrate medical services with tourism is one reason RSA UGM partnered with Sheraton Mustika Resort and Spa. 

“Sheraton is very competent in hospitality and knows how to package health tourism and wellness into an attractive program,” said Dr. Darwito.

He hopes the collaboration between the two institutions will encourage tourists to seek treatment in Yogyakarta without going abroad.

I Gede Sujana, GM of Sheraton Mustika Resort and Spa, stated that this cooperation aims to enhance each institution’s human resources capacity. 

“We provide reciprocal training. We train RSA UGM staff in hospitality, culinary arts, and all things related to tourism, while RSA UGM trains our staff in emergency response for dealing with patients,” said Sujana.

He added that integrating medical tourism provides ample opportunity for additional revenue for local tourism. More extended stays will positively impact spending on products and services.

Head of the Health Tourism and Wellness Installation at RSA UGM, Lutfhi Hidayat, MD, stated that the cooperation between RSA UGM and Sheraton Mustika Resort and Spa is an innovative idea that can be developed in the health and tourism sectors to build a new type of tourism in Yogyakarta. 

“We have coordinated with many parties, such as the Tourism Industry Association, the Tourism Office, and other hospitals in Yogyakarta. RSA UGM also formed a Health Tourism Board responsible for certifying medical tourism,” he said.

Hidayat emphasized that developing medical tourism in Yogyakarta requires assistance from many parties to avoid being left behind by other regions. This partnership aligns with the broader national agenda to make Indonesia a leading health, cultural heritage, and tourism destination.

Author: Triya Andriyani

Editor: Gusti Grehenson

Artikel UGM Academic Hospital Opens Health Tourism and Wellness Services pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

One such example is Sujok therapy, a traditional treatment from South Korea that utilizes specific points on the body to alleviate pain without consuming medication, reduce emotional and mental disturbances, and treat other ailments.

This was expressed by Professor Intansari Nurjannah, a faculty member of the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM), during her inauguration speech as a full professor in mental and community nursing on Tuesday (Apr. 30) at the UGM Senate Hall.

In her opening speech, Professor Nurjannah shared her interest in delving into traditional medicine, driven by her desire to advocate for her mother’s recovery.

“My journey began from the need to help my mother, who had to undergo hemodialysis. Armed with the power of love, I have attended various traditional medicine skills training and eventually discovered Sujok therapy,” said the new professor.

She admitted that Sujok therapy repeatedly amazed her after applying it to her mother. Her health condition improved significantly, and several times, Sujok therapy provided quick and accurate effects, such as relieving pain without using analgesic drugs. 

She even experienced profound happiness when she saw her mother sleeping soundly without feeling pain throughout her body. However, ultimately, God had different plans, and her mother passed away in February 2022.

Professor Nurjannah explained that Sujok therapy is a traditional treatment from South Korea, first introduced by a South Korean philosopher, Park Jae Woo. 

To perform the therapy, hand and foot points are stimulated using various methods, including massage, seed application, magnet application, needle puncture (Sujokpuncture), and moxibustion (moksa).

Like other traditional treatments, Sujok therapy extensively utilizes materials available in nature. According to her, Sujok therapy employs materials that can be easily obtained from the surrounding environment. Combining various methods can also yield better effects on the body.

She added that Sujok emphasizes the distribution of energy in the human body in addition to physical therapy. 

As Professor Park Jae Woo mentioned, human energy is divided into four parts: meridians, chakras, Sujok ki zones, and the diamond energy system. This method can heal problems in various human body dimensions, including physical and spiritual aspects.

“Various literature mentions that the body’s response speed to Sujok therapy is quite astonishing, and in some cases, improvements can be felt within minutes,” explained Professor Nurjannah.

Compared to other treatment methods, she stated that Sujok therapy also has almost no risk of interactions that could hinder the effectiveness of medical treatments that patients may have undergone. 

Seeing this potential, Professor Nurjannah continues to delve into Sujok therapy from various experts and professors worldwide, such as South Korea, Australia, India, and others. 

Not only that, but she also actively promotes Sujok therapy in several community health centers in Yogyakarta. One is the Jetis II Bantul Community Health Center, which has the most certified therapists by Indonesia’s National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP).

Professor Nurjannah added that as a follow-up to promoting Sujok therapy, FK-KMK UGM and the Jetis II Bantul Community Health Center will open Sujok therapy services. Of course, this service is hoped to be implemented in all other community health centers in various regions.

At the end of the inauguration ceremony, the Rector of UGM, Professor Ova Emilia, mentioned that Professor Nurjannah is one of the 460 active full professors at UGM. At the faculty level, she is one of the 66 active full professors out of the 131 full professors owned by FK-KMK UGM. 

“I also congratulate the nursing department because she is the second full professor this department has ever had. Hopefully, there will be more new full professors in the future,” said the rector.

Author: Tasya

Editor: Gusti Grehenson

Photographer: Firsto

Artikel Professor Intansari Nurjannah of UGM Promotes Sujok Therapy for Pain Relief and Healing pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Integrating self-management becomes more accessible with the DiaRIn App, which can improve self-management and glycemic control in patients with T2DM.

“Users are satisfied, and the DiaRIn Android application is recommended for general use by patients with T2DM,” stated Dewi Murdiyanti Prihatin Putri during her doctoral defense at the UGM Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing (FK-KMK UGM), on Thursday (21/3).

On that occasion, Dr. Putri defended her dissertation, Implementation of Integrated Diabetes Self-Management Based on the Android Application (DiaRIn App) in Improving Self-Management and Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients.

Based on her research, the DiaRIn Android application was developed based on user needs and then tested using the Heuristic Evaluation method. 

Most of the issues that arose were minor usability problems, so overall, the Android application can be easily used. The Think Aloud method also revealed that users are satisfied with using the DiaRIn application, finding it easy, effective, and efficient.

“There are many benefits that patients with T2DM experience in guiding self-management using the DiaRIn application, so self-awareness and commitment are needed in its implementation,” she added.

Families can continue to monitor and remind patients of their self-management activities through the DiaRIn application so that patients can carry out their self-management regularly and orderly.

Healthcare professionals responsible for the Prolanis program can introduce the DiaRIn application to patients and families and use it in healthcare services to monitor self-management implementation in patients with T2DM. 

They can also provide education and a means for health consultations, making it easier to monitor the health conditions of patients with T2DM.

Author: Satria

Photo: FK-KMK UGM

Artikel DiaRIn App Empowers Patients with Type 2 Diabetes for Self-Management pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The event, held virtually from Feb. 23 to 25, 2024, saw the UGM team clinching a prestigious Gold Medal alongside coveted titles for Best Computational Project and Best Human-Centered Design.

The GOGEC competition stands as a beacon of excellence in genetic engineering, attracting participation from 15 teams spanning 11 countries. 

Comprising undergraduate students from diverse academic backgrounds, this year’s competition showcased the ingenuity and talent of budding scientists from across the globe.

Representing UGM with unwavering dedication and expertise were nine outstanding students: Adhelia Intan Sabhira, Sofyan Maulana, and Ulfah Nur Azizah from the Faculty of Biology; Farrel Alfaza Marsetyo and Nayaka Bagus Wahyu Agung Hertanto from the Faculty of Pharmacy; Afra Majida Hariono and Kayla Queenazima Santoso from the Faculty of Engineering; Melodia Rezadhini from the Faculty of Agriculture; and Muhammad Bagus Sajiwo from the Faculty of Agricultural Technology.

For Adhelia Sabhira and her teammates, this marked a debut appearance on the international stage, making their triumph all the more remarkable. Reflecting on their victory, Sabhira expressed gratitude for the team’s inaugural success. 

“This is our first foray into such a prestigious competition, which has been running since 2021,” she remarked on Thursday (Feb. 29).

Each participating team presented innovative research projects to foster accessible and affordable international competition. 

The UGM team showcased a computational project titled “Novel Biodevice for Colorectal Cancer Screening using Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) with miRNAs as Biomarker.”

“Our project centers on engineering EcN bacteria to detect miR-92a and miR-21 as biomarkers for colorectal cancer cells, coupled with enhancing Loop-Initiated RNA Activator (LIRA) sensitivity through mathematical modeling and computer simulation,” she said.

In the pursuit of their research endeavors, team members engaged in extensive consultations with researchers, stakeholders, government agencies, rural communities, and colorectal cancer patients. 

The team used available online datasets to refine the LIRA sequence and devised a kill switch as a biocontainment measure. 

“Our commitment to rigorous research and community engagement undoubtedly contributed to our triumphant haul of three prestigious awards: the Gold Medal, Best Computational Project, and Best Human-Centered Design,” Sabhira affirmed.

Author: Gusti Grehenson

Artikel UGM Team Clinches Top Honors at International Genetic Engineering Competition pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.

According to a survey conducted by the Association of Internet Service Providers in Indonesia in 2023, there were 215 million Internet users in Indonesia alone. The ramifications of digitization, both positive and negative, including digital habits, are undeniable. 

Addressing this issue, the Center for Digital Society (CfDS) at the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences explored the topic in Diffusion #106 titled “Digital Well-being: Practical Steps to Maintaining Mental Balance” on Tuesday (Feb. 13).

“Digital technology significantly influences our well-being and shapes our understanding of leading a fulfilling life in an increasingly digital society. The general public is already familiar with digital well-being, evident in screen time tracking and reduction applications. However, their effectiveness remains uncertain,” remarked Rizka Herdiani, a researcher at CfDS. 

She highlighted that the surge in digital exposure since the onset of the pandemic has led to the formation of new digital behaviors and routines.

One prevalent symptom is the fear of missing out (FOMO), particularly among avid internet users, especially the youth demographic. While FOMO is commonly perceived as an individual’s mindset, it can escalate into more serious conditions. 

Experiencing anxiety when not in possession of a device or fearing missing out on information to the extent that it disrupts mental equilibrium is one example. This underscores the significance of comprehending digital well-being.

Regrettably, cultivating good digital habits still largely hinges on user conduct. Regulations and features implemented by digital platforms have yet to be entirely effective in discouraging unhealthy digital habits or offering adequate support. 

“Users often find that disliked content persists despite setting preferences to avoid it. Hence, we cannot solely rely on applications; once again, it boils down to user responsibility. Nevertheless, digital platform companies should consider this,” added Herdiani.

Digital well-being extends beyond individual habits as users of the digital world. It encompasses how digitization or digital services can promote healthy practices in the community’s lifestyles. 

Anis Fuad, a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing at UGM, elaborated on the strong influence of digitization on healthcare services. Previously, individuals typically endured long queues at healthcare facilities, but now, early registration through applications mitigates this inconvenience.

“Compelling research indicates that the internet is pivotal in fostering healthy lifestyles—for example, step counter apps, heart rate monitors, and sleep cycle reminders. Maintaining a healthy mindset and monitoring our mental well-being are becoming increasingly important. Measures like these are now integral aspects of health maintenance,” highlighted Fuad. 

One noteworthy innovation introduced by BPJS Kesehatan is the Electronic Health Record (EHR) application, which facilitates the independent monitoring of individual medical records. This app allows individuals to track hospital visits, view health screening data, and assess potential health risks.

Emphasizing the realization of digital well-being is paramount in this digital age. Besides promoting healthy lifestyles, digital well-being aligns with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3. The aspiration is for digitization to prompt society to prioritize mental and physical health by leveraging technological advancements.

Author: Tasya

Artikel Navigating Digital Age: Cultivating Digital Well-being in Hyperconnected World pertama kali tampil pada Universitas Gadjah Mada.