Research

Evaluation of E-tool MRSA shows usefulness

MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a hospital bacterium that is resistant against most commonly applied antibiotics. As MRSA is ever more prevalent outside the hospital among otherwise healthy people, it is becoming a major public health threat. A great deal of MRSA- infections in the community as well as in the hospitals can be avoided by an improved understanding of and compliance with anti-MRSA measures.

A web based learning tool for both the general public and healthcare workers has been introduced to accomplish reduce rate of MRSA infections. The tool has been developed by the University of Twente within the cross border collaboration project Euregio MRSA-net Twente/Münsterland.

Both target groups have been involved in the design process of the web-based tool from the beginning. From February 2008, the web-based tool has been available online in both German and Dutch at www.mrsa-net.nl . Since then, the tool has been visited relatively well by over 21.000 unique visitors, with an average of 176 unique visitors daily. Research shows that the tool is particularly perceived as "innovative" and "practically useful". Among all users, MRSA-patients and nurses seem to benefit from the practical applicability of the guidelines communicated by the tool. Furthermore, evaluation by means of scenario-based tests demonstrates that the web-based tool significantly outperforms the existing, expert-driven guidelines concerning both effectiveness and efficiency criteria. Moreover, it is found that involving users is important to create ownership and to foster the applicability of the tool.

The development and implementation of the web-based information tool is the basis of a PhD-study by Ms. Drs. Fenne Verhoeven and her thesis will be published in September 2009.

Online coaching and healthy living

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre and the University of Twente cooperate in research on the effectiveness and usefulness of an online coach that helps people achieve and keep a healthy weight. The ‘Healthy weight assistant’ is developed for those with a healthy weight or a slight overweight. The application generates personalized advice for users with regard to nutrition, physical exercise and the emotions involved. They are supported to set goals and to achieve them. One option is to keep a dietary and exercise diary.

A prototype of the ‘Assistant’ was tested by a panel of subscribers to the Nutrition Centre’s newsletter ‘Healthy weight’. This pre-study delivered useful information on expectation, motivation and satisfaction of users leading to improvements in usability of the application. Next the effectiveness of the final version of the ‘Healthy weight assistant’ will be studied in a randomised controlled trial. Outcomes are expected in summer 2009 from Drs. Saskia Kelders.

Effectiveness of domotica for dementia

Drs. Nienke Nijhof studies the influence of using technology for patients with dementia. Variables such as work satisfaction, usability, quality of life are measured in three related research projects. In a recently started project at Diafaan Zorggroep, special watches monitor the sleep/wake rhythm of patients in a nursing home. In a second project at ZZG Zorggroep the implications of falling/wandering detection by a multimedia platform PAL4 are studied while a third project tests several GPS systems for dementia patients.

Two new PhD-projects 2008

Two new research projects in e health research in rheumatology will soon take off. One is on the development of patient decision aids (PtDA’s), the other is on the development of an interactive web-based health communication tool.

Patient involvement in treatment decisions; preferences, practices and the production of two computerized Patient Decision Aids (PtDA’s)

Patient Decision Aids (PtDA’s) are valuable tools to help doctors and patients to communicate about treatment benefits and risks, and to improve patient participation in medical decision making. PtDA’s are increasingly available for a variety of treatment decisions, but are not common in rheumatology. The first aim of this project is to get more insight in patient involvement in treatment decisions in Dutch rheumatology. To this aim a survey will be conducted among a large number of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. The second aim of the study is to develop and evaluate two computerized PtDA’s to help patients make decisions about the use of (1) traditional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and (2) biologic DMARDs. Interviews with rheumatologists and a qualitative study among patients are part of the project. Draft versions of the PtDA’s will be evaluated in a usability study among patients. The final version of the PtDA’s will be tested in a clinical intervention study.

The project is currently looking for a suitable PhD-student. The PhD will be supervised by Dr CHC Drossaert, Dr E Taal en Prof Dr M van de Laar.

E-health in rheumatology; development and evaluation of an ‘Interactive Health Communication Application’.

The first aim of this project is to examine the extent to which e-health applications are currently used in rheumatology and to investigate the needs and wishes of patients and doctors with respect to e-health applications in rheumatology. Based upon the results of these studies an Interactive Health Communication Application (IHCA) will be developed for patients with Arthritis in the region of Twente, the Netherlands. Possible parts of this IHCA are services like: “Ask the expert”, “Online contact with peers”, “Care-pointer”, and “Self-assessments”. In the last part of this project, the IHCA and its different parts will be subject to a usability study and an effect-evaluation.

The study is currently looking for a suitable PhD-student. The PhD will be supervised by Dr. C.H.C. Drossaert, Dr. E. Taal en prof. Dr. M. van de Laar.

	IGS > Home > ... > Newsletter November 2008 > Research
<< IGS Home Newsletter IGS eHealth and Disease Management About Research Organisation Symposia Search	Research Evaluation of E-tool MRSA shows usefulness MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a hospital bacterium that is resistant against most commonly applied antibiotics. As MRSA is ever more prevalent outside the hospital among otherwise healthy people, it is becoming a major public health threat. A great deal of MRSA- infections in the community as well as in the hospitals can be avoided by an improved understanding of and compliance with anti-MRSA measures. A web based learning tool for both the general public and healthcare workers has been introduced to accomplish reduce rate of MRSA infections. The tool has been developed by the University of Twente within the cross border collaboration project Euregio MRSA-net Twente/Münsterland. Both target groups have been involved in the design process of the web-based tool from the beginning. From February 2008, the web-based tool has been available online in both German and Dutch at www.mrsa-net.nl . Since then, the tool has been visited relatively well by over 21.000 unique visitors, with an average of 176 unique visitors daily. Research shows that the tool is particularly perceived as "innovative" and "practically useful". Among all users, MRSA-patients and nurses seem to benefit from the practical applicability of the guidelines communicated by the tool. Furthermore, evaluation by means of scenario-based tests demonstrates that the web-based tool significantly outperforms the existing, expert-driven guidelines concerning both effectiveness and efficiency criteria. Moreover, it is found that involving users is important to create ownership and to foster the applicability of the tool. The development and implementation of the web-based information tool is the basis of a PhD-study by Ms. Drs. Fenne Verhoeven and her thesis will be published in September 2009. Online coaching and healthy living The Netherlands Nutrition Centre and the University of Twente cooperate in research on the effectiveness and usefulness of an online coach that helps people achieve and keep a healthy weight. The ‘Healthy weight assistant’ is developed for those with a healthy weight or a slight overweight. The application generates personalized advice for users with regard to nutrition, physical exercise and the emotions involved. They are supported to set goals and to achieve them. One option is to keep a dietary and exercise diary. A prototype of the ‘Assistant’ was tested by a panel of subscribers to the Nutrition Centre’s newsletter ‘Healthy weight’. This pre-study delivered useful information on expectation, motivation and satisfaction of users leading to improvements in usability of the application. Next the effectiveness of the final version of the ‘Healthy weight assistant’ will be studied in a randomised controlled trial. Outcomes are expected in summer 2009 from Drs. Saskia Kelders. Effectiveness of domotica for dementia Drs. Nienke Nijhof studies the influence of using technology for patients with dementia. Variables such as work satisfaction, usability, quality of life are measured in three related research projects. In a recently started project at Diafaan Zorggroep, special watches monitor the sleep/wake rhythm of patients in a nursing home. In a second project at ZZG Zorggroep the implications of falling/wandering detection by a multimedia platform PAL4 are studied while a third project tests several GPS systems for dementia patients. Two new PhD-projects 2008 Two new research projects in e health research in rheumatology will soon take off. One is on the development of patient decision aids (PtDA’s), the other is on the development of an interactive web-based health communication tool. Patient involvement in treatment decisions; preferences, practices and the production of two computerized Patient Decision Aids (PtDA’s) Patient Decision Aids (PtDA’s) are valuable tools to help doctors and patients to communicate about treatment benefits and risks, and to improve patient participation in medical decision making. PtDA’s are increasingly available for a variety of treatment decisions, but are not common in rheumatology. The first aim of this project is to get more insight in patient involvement in treatment decisions in Dutch rheumatology. To this aim a survey will be conducted among a large number of patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. The second aim of the study is to develop and evaluate two computerized PtDA’s to help patients make decisions about the use of (1) traditional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and (2) biologic DMARDs. Interviews with rheumatologists and a qualitative study among patients are part of the project. Draft versions of the PtDA’s will be evaluated in a usability study among patients. The final version of the PtDA’s will be tested in a clinical intervention study. The project is currently looking for a suitable PhD-student. The PhD will be supervised by Dr CHC Drossaert, Dr E Taal en Prof Dr M van de Laar. E-health in rheumatology; development and evaluation of an ‘Interactive Health Communication Application’. The first aim of this project is to examine the extent to which e-health applications are currently used in rheumatology and to investigate the needs and wishes of patients and doctors with respect to e-health applications in rheumatology. Based upon the results of these studies an Interactive Health Communication Application (IHCA) will be developed for patients with Arthritis in the region of Twente, the Netherlands. Possible parts of this IHCA are services like: “Ask the expert”, “Online contact with peers”, “Care-pointer”, and “Self-assessments”. In the last part of this project, the IHCA and its different parts will be subject to a usability study and an effect-evaluation. The study is currently looking for a suitable PhD-student. The PhD will be supervised by Dr. C.H.C. Drossaert, Dr. E. Taal en prof. Dr. M. van de Laar.