[MA 2025 13] Usability of a connected care platform for cardiac rehabilitation
Amsterdam UMC Department of Medical Informatics. In collaboration with Amsterdam UMC Department of Internal-Geriatric medicine.
Proposed by: David Neal [d.n.neal@amsterdamumc.nl]
Introduction
Continuity of care for older patients with chronic cardiac disease is associated with lower mortality. [1] However, most research on continuity of care only considers the primary care context. A multidisciplinary digital care platform could help to further improve care for patients with both cardiac and cognitive problems by connecting ‘cure’ (the prescription and monitoring of medical therapies with the aim of treating disease) and ‘care’ (provision of support to adapt to and cope with illness in order to maintain functional abilities and good quality of life) and ensure optimal communications between patients/caregivers, health-care professionals in the hospital and health-care professionals outside the hospital. The Heart-Brain Clinic (Amsterdam UMC) has implemented such a platform. CBoards is a collaboration and communications application that aims to be easy to use, and to improve multidisciplinary collaboration and coordination between professionals/teams of professionals, and patients and caregivers. [2] The main functionalities of cBoards are data registration & data sharing (data, documents, photos); data exchange; the involvement of health-care professionals, patients and informal caregivers; communications (chat). CBoards have been used for patients with COVID-19, COPD, and palliative care, and have integrations with electronic health records across primary and secondary care.
Description of the SRP Project/Problem
The primary goal of this study is to perform a mixed methods qualitative evaluation of the usability of this platform by means of a survey, interviews, and/or focus groups, from the perspective of each user group: patients/caregivers, health professionals based in the hospital, and community health professionals. Further, the study should apply implementation frameworks to identify barriers and facilitators for further implementation of the platform, and consider early health technology assessment.
Research questions
RQ1) To what extent is the current iteration of the CBoards platform usable for the three intended user groups? (Analyse qualitative data regarding user experience, ease of use, efficiency and effectiveness).
RQ2) What has been the experienced impact of CBoards on patient or professional satisfaction with health care, care outcomes, or efficiency of healthcare delivery?
RQ3) What would be required to further implement CBoards, considering potential barriers and facilitators?
Expected results
- Master thesis (at least 2-3 chapters, potential to write each chapter up as a scientific article for publication)
- Specification for further development of CBoard from a user-centred and usability perspective
- Implementation plan and supportive materials
Time period, please tick at least 1 time period
- November – June (x)
- May - November
References
[1] Pahlavanyali S, Hetlevik Ø, Baste V, Blinkenberg J, Hunskaar S. Continuity of care and mortality for patients with chronic disease: an observational study using Norwegian registry data. Fam Pract. 2023 Dec 22;40(5-6):698-706. doi: 10.1093/fampra/cmad025
[2] ZorgDomein. Boards voor Netwerkzorg. https://zorgdomein.com/onze-oplossingen/boards-voor-netwerkzorg/