Research

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Patient care
Promotion of Public Health
Organization of Care
Bachelor/Master Theses

The research program of the IBR Center for eHealth Research and Disease Management at the University of Twente focuses on research related to the use of interactive eHealth applications aimed at the improvement of care for patients, promotion of public health and organization of care. We study the use of interactive technology to support disease management and to promote management of self-care by patients. Examples of interactive technology to improve care for patients are e-coaching (support of self-care using interactive coaching programs) and e-consultation, in which patients communicate with their doctors through email. Promotion of public health can be achieved by digital triage in combination with individualized health education and interactive health education programs for the general public. Organization of care can be improved by web-based communication systems to enhance cooperation and collaboration between health care providers (shared care). Often, these web-based communication systems lead to cost savings in health care.

Apple with usb-plug

The use of interactive eHealth applications may have some important benefits. With regard to care for patients, eHealth applications improve continuity of care during various episodes of the self-care continuum (healthy living, minor ailments, long-term conditions, in-hospital). Moreover, interactive eHealth applications allow a User-centered approach, in which an empathic design of eHealth applications enhance the communication between patients and their health care professional, leading to an improvement in quality of life.

Aim of our research is to develop and evaluate innovative eHealth applications. We take a user-centered approach in the design of these eHealth applications, which in an elegant, simple and emotionally satisfying way improve communication between patients and their health care providers. Other applications aim to improve communication between patients with comparable complaints in online support groups. This communication improves the autonomy and independence of mostly elderly patients and their safety. Primary target groups of these eHealth applications are elderly people with a heightened risk for medical complications and patients with existing chronic complaints. The eHealth applications aimed at these groups have as their primary focus to support coping with physical and mental impediments. Another area of research is to study the factors that are related to the implementation of eHealth applications in practice.

In our research, we use a multidisciplinary and applied approach. In our projects, we often use mixed method designs with several research approaches, such as qualitative and quantitative methods. Depending on the project, an important goal of the research is to assess the effects eHealth applications on various outcomes, such as recognition of symptoms, support of coping with complaints and promotion of well being through acceptance of a life with certain limitations.

Currently, the following research projects are carried out: