The project is part of the ‘gettingBetter.nl’ project of the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment). This project focuses on “Consumer Health Informatics” (the branch of medical informatics that analyses consumers’ needs for information; studies and implements methods of making information accessible to consumers; and models and integrates consumers’ preferences into medical information systems, Eysenbach 2000; 2005).
This project focuses on the line of research ‘Tools and Services; Virtual coach for supporting self-care’. The main research question is to asses the possibility of a virtual coach which supports chronically ill patients in coping with their disease. This coach will do so by focusing on improving quality of life and wellbeing.
The research will focus on the requirements a virtual coach has to fulfil to be successful. Key to this is the user (patient) and his expectations. Important research questions are: How can we achieve that the technology matches the users’ expectations? What are the requirements to make sure patients use and keep using the coach? What is needed for patients to build a relationship with the coach?
To answer these questions we will be looking at tools that are used today. We will investigate experiences with different tools, the efficiency, effectiveness and points of improvement. Based on these results a prototype virtual coach will be developed, which matches the demands and expectations of the intended users.
Quasi-experimental mixed-methods (interviews, survey) research design will be used to evaluate the design and implementation process and real-time usage tests to assess the performance of prototypes of virtual coaches. Theoretical background: Chronic Care Model, stepped care approach, User-centered and emphatic design; Diffusion of innovations. |
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