Project R-14003

Making Healthcare Technology A Success Story: Developing A Patient-centric Toolset to Design, Manage, Evaluate and Optimize Patient Healthcare Technology Usage. (Research)

In healthcare, an increasing number of technologies are being used to improve the health and well-being of patients. The use of healthcare technologies can contribute to the well-being of patients, which is an important outcome in healthcare service research as it is associated with improved health, quality of life, and improved provider performance. While the benefits of healthcare technologies indeed seem promising, these benefits can only be realized if patients are willing and able to effectively use such technologies. Therefore, it is important for healthcare technology providers and implementers to shift their focus from an internal orientation (i.e., focus on technology and/or provider) to a patient-centered orientation, where the focus is on understanding and fulfilling the needs and desires of the patient. The aim of this research is to gain insights into how healthcare technologies, in which patients are actively involved (i.e., the patient must invest resources such as time and knowledge to use the technology), influence patient well-being. These insights are necessary to enable practitioners to make informed decisions about designing, using, and managing these technologies in a patient-centered manner. To address the research questions, both qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to collect data from multiple samples, including patients and healthcare providers. This research aims to provide healthcare technology providers and implementers with essential insights into the factors that influence patient well-being when using healthcare technologies. Based on these findings, healthcare technology providers and implementers can develop effective communication and educational tools to support patients in utilizing these technologies, thereby minimizing negative effects and maximizing positive outcomes. Additionally, a toolset will be developed to help practitioners evaluate patients' perceptions of the facilitators and barriers to well-being, allowing for the optimization of patient well-being. From a societal standpoint, this research has the potential to improve the availability and affordability of healthcare, particularly in the context of aging populations and workforce shortages. The patient-centered perspective on healthcare technologies can also assist public institutions in making informed decisions regarding the allocation of limited resources, which is critical for enhancing healthcare accessibility and overall improvement.

01 October 2023 - 01 November 2024