Building bridges for meaningful ehealth: aligning people, technology and practice through collaboration and knowledge sharing

Poot, C.C. (2024)

Doctoral Thesis

The Dutch healthcare system is facing multiple challenges which have put a strain on the healthcare system in terms of finances and workforce shortages. eHealth offers innovative and promising ways of providing healthcare, including remote and digital care. However, despite the potential of eHealth to transform healthcare and improve patient outcomes, its wide-spread adoption and implementation have been limited. 

One major obstacle is limited usage, often due to the insufficient engagement of end-users, including patients, in the early design phase. The dissertation underscores the importance of participatory design to actively involve users. Another challenge is the short-term usage of eHealth applications, often a result of inadequate user engagement. The integration of "Persuasive games," incorporating game elements to promote behavioural change, is suggested to enhance engagement and encourage sustained use. The digital divide presents a third challenge, affecting specific user groups like those with limited (e)health literacy. Bridging this gap necessitates not only access to digital technologies but also promoting ehealth literacy and involving users in eHealth development. Moreover, a lack of evidence on the effectiveness of eHealth interventions impedes widespread acceptance. Traditional research designs, like randomized clinical studies, often overlook the complexity of intervention contexts. 

The dissertation seeks to address these challenges through practical research projects, emphasizing participatory design, evaluating effectiveness in real-world settings, translating and assessing the eHealth Literacy questionnaire, and creating tools for effective knowledge transfer. Advocating for early end-user engagement and a critical review of existing research paradigms, the dissertation offers valuable insights for overcoming challenges and advancing eHealth for improved patient and healthcare outcomes.

• eHealth
• mHealth
• Participatory design
• Mixed method research
• Effectiveness study
• Adherence
• Health inequities
• Science communication

• All authors: Poot, C.C.
• Supervisor: Chavannes, N.H.
• Co-supervisor: Meijer, E.
• Committee: Kiefte-de Jong, J.C.; Kleinsmann, M.S.; Bolman, C.A.W.; Boven, J.F.M. van
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Faculty of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Leiden University
• Date: 2024-02-01
• ISBN (print): 9789464836127