On Thursday, 25 June, Professor of Persuasive Health Technology Lisette van Gemert-Pijnen held her inaugural lecture at the University of Twente. In her research and education (at the department of Psychology, Health and Technology), Van Gemert-Pijnen focuses on the way health technology is aimed at the user and at its attractiveness. According to the professor, healthcare is currently technology's plaything. But is the playing field itself clear? Van Gemert-Pijnen: “How do you ensure that technology - for example, a far-too-heavy wristwatch with sensors for old people, - doesn't just unintentionally disappear in a drawer?"
According to Van Gemert-Pijnen, the use of health technology too often does not fit the wishes and capabilities of the users themselves. Van Gemert-Pijnen: “Often, technology is thought up by experts, caregivers or industry. The user doesn’t get involved. Testing is not done beforehand and evaluation doesn't take place properly. In our discipline, we have developed a scientific model in which the users and stakeholders are involved in the design process from the very beginning: it's all about humanisation. It's precisely the user who is emphatically paramount in this model".
Holistic approach
In her plea for a holistic eHealth approach - with the person and his/her social environment as the starting point – Van Gemert-Pijnen indicates that eHealth is not yet sufficiently utilised in the Netherlands. Scientific research that encourages self-care and adaptation to technology by means of technology that works, that helps and that yields results is absolutely essential. Van Gemert-Pijnen explains: “In our model, we use persuasive strategies that can support both patients and caregivers. Consider, for example, techniques that make technology attractive and user-focused. Information for patients sometimes appears in illegible graphs. We investigate, for example, how to visualise information better".
Synergy through connections
Technology is evolving rapidly: products become obsolete quickly and then disappear into basements or attics. In her research, Van Gemert-Pijnen is interested in how to achieve a fit between technology and users. The ambition of her professorship is to create a unique technological-psychological profile - a profile that presents a challenge for designing a new generation of technology. Van Gemert-Pijnen: “Our Centre for eHealth & Wellbeing Research provides a platform for collaboration with partners both inside and outside UT, and for valorisation of the research”. Our aim is to create synergy by creating connections. Creating connections that transcend disciplines is also the core principle underpinning my argument.
About prof. van Gemert-Pijnen
Prof. van Gemert-Pijnen is a professor of Persuasive Health Technology at the BMS faculty (Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences). Van Gemert-Pijnen works together with UMCG (University Medical Center Groningen), the University of Waterloo (Canada) and the University of Oulu (Finland) in designing persuasive healthcare technology. She is chief editor of the International Journal on Advances in Life Sciences and is a member of the editorial board of BMC Medical Informatics and Decision-making. She organises the annual ‘Supporting Health by Technology' conference.
Inaugural lecture
Prof. dr. J.E.W.C. van Gemert-Pijnen's inaugural lecture was held on 25 June 2015 in the Prof. ir. M.P. Breedveld auditorium and in the foyer of the Waaier building.
