GP internship

Evaluation of (nation-)wide implementation of a patient decision aid including real-world data for lung cancer patients

Type of assignment:                         Internship / combination with thesis possible
Internal or external?:                        External, remote and at program bureau Santeon in Utrecht
Maximum number of students         :  2-3
Individual collecting of data?           Depending on the assignment
Type of research:                            Qualitative and quantitative

Description of the assignment

Santeon is a collaboration of seven Dutch teaching hospitals that continuously renews care pathways using the principles of Value-Based Health Care (VBHC). By measuring outcomes, learning from each other, and improving through standardization, personalization, and digitalization, Santeon aims to create a value-driven, patient-centered journey.

Within this approach, the Samen Beter program is how Santeon puts VBHC into practice: multidisciplinary teams from all seven hospitals compare outcomes, share best practices, and improve care pathways together. One of these pathways is lung cancer, where a key focus project is the nationwide implementation of the Lung Cancer Patient Decision Aid (LC-PtDA). This tool includes a Patients-Like-Me data module that presents real-world data to patients to support shared decision-making (SDM).

The project includes an evaluation of the implementation of SDM and the LC-PtDA, with a specific focus on how real-world outcome data is used during the SDM process.

There are several possible assignments within this project, depending on your interests and background. Examples include:

• Conducting and analyzing interviews with patients and health professionals about the implementation process (including barriers and facilitators).
• Analyzing survey responses collected from implementation teams at different phases of the implementation process.
• Conducting usability research on the Patients-Like-Me module to evaluate how patients and professionals experience the use of real-world data in decision-making.

Additional/alternative assignments may be defined in consultation with the supervisors.
We prefer students who wish to combine their internship with their master’s thesis (with a trial period of the time of the internship). Approximately 50% of the work can be done remotely; the remainder will take place on location, either at one of the participating hospitals or at the program bureau in Utrecht, depending on the assignment and in consultation with the supervisor.

Who are we looking for?

• Enthusiastic, motivated, and eager-to-learn master’s students. 
• Strong interest in applied health psychology, implementation, or decision-making in healthcare.
• Preferably able to combine internship and thesis work.

What do we offer?

• A dynamic workplace experience at the intersection of research and practice.
• The opportunity to contribute to the evaluation of an innovative nationwide program in SDM.

More information? Jet Ankersmid-Matos Miguel (j.ankersmid@santeon.nl / +31647127318)

Supervisor:  to be determined

Additional information
-          Santeon
-          Lung cancer pathway at Santeon
News: 10th hospital adopts Lung Cancer Decision Aid