Research group Innovation in Healthcare Processes in Pharmacology
The Research group Innovation in Healthcare Processes in Pharmacology has the ambition to improve pharmaceutical care to support people's ability to live healthily and independently for longer. To this end, we are looking into improvements with regard to the use, distribution and information about medicines.
Lines of research within the research group
The general population is getting older and is therefore having to deal with more (chronic) conditions. This is leading to an increase in the use of medication. The importance of therapy adherence is therefore also increasing. How can we ensure that patients take the correct dosages at the right time and for the prescribed duration?
Projects
- MAKE-IT Medication Adherence Knowledge, Expertise and Implementation Taskforce – Ruby Janssen
The population in Dutch cities is becoming increasingly diverse. How can pharmaceutical healthcare providers, such as pharmacists, ensure that patients remain well informed about the medicines they are being given? How can healthcare providers maintain contact during treatment and ensure that patients stay informed if, for example, side effects or drug interactions occur?
We are witnessing a steady movement towards more self-reliance among people. Life expectancy is increasing are people are wanting to live independently for longer, even if they have chronic conditions. The use of medication is therefore also increasing, along with an increased risk of medicine-related problems (MRPs).
Many healthcare providers are directly involved with their patients; the line between primary and secondary healthcare is becoming blurred. Pharmaceutical patient care in primary and secondary healthcare will be composed of a network of professional caregivers and informal caregivers, supported by smart technology.
Skin therapy is a relatively new field in which many innovative therapies are being applied in practice. There is a need for more evidence of the efficacy and applicability of these therapies in collaboration with professional practice and patients.
Projects
- ACTE acne vulgaris therapy: efficacy of care – Femke de Vries
- SCARS: Scars after (preventive) breast cancer surgery: non-surgical preventive and curative interventions – Kristel Everaars
- PARAPLU: PAtient self-ReliAnce in the Prevention of venous Leg Ulcers – Audrey Meulendijk
FRIEND Fall Prevention Implementation Study
We will assess which strategies are successful for the implementation of effective fall prevention programs.
Quality of Life and Satisfaction in Hypothyroid Patients
The Netherlands have over half a million people with no or a decreased thyroid function (hypothyroidism), a chronic disease requiring lifelong treatment. This research project assesses the quality of life and satisfaction in hypothyroid patients.
Publications
- Acne healthcare in the Netherlands From fragmented care to an integrated healthcare system
- Breast and abdominal scarring after DIEP flap breast reconstruction an exploration of patient-reported scar quality
- Exploring patient journeys through acne healthcare: a patient perspective
Education
There is a strong link with the Pharmaceutical Business Administration programme, but also with other (paramedical) healthcare programmes at HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht. After all, pharmaceutical care is interprofessional and plays an important role at many levels within healthcare. The pharmaceutical field is undergoing rapid change.
“The context of medicinal use is at least as much a source of variability in the effect of medication as is pharmacology.”
Rob Heerdink Professor of Innovation in Healthcare Processes in Pharmacology
Collaboration
One does not innovate or conduct research on one’s own. The research group therefore collaborates with many parties in the field of healthcare (pharmacies, hospitals, other healthcare providers), research (universities, research institutes) and the business community (eHealth developers, pharmaceutical distribution).
