Specialization
Focus of research
In today’s clinical decision-making, there is an ever increasing amount of numerical evidence available, e.g., RCT-derived evidence, prognostic model predictions, Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). Expectations are high as to providing patients with this numerical evidence (i.e. risk communication), towards outcomes-oriented healthcare (Passende Zorg*). However, such numbers mostly don’t mean anything to patients, but remain just that: numbers. Numbers need to be translated into meaningful information to be useful for Informed or Shared Decision Making (SDM). This risk communication is challenging, especially when patients face emotional distress or have lower numeracy.
My research program at the department of Public and Occupational Health pursues innovation in risk communication in relation to Informed Decision Making and Shared Decision Making. Unique to my approach is that I use interdisciplinary methods at the intersection of health services research, psychology and Human-centered design (HCD).
My research is embedded within the section Quality and Organization of Care (QOC); Department of Public and Occupational Health. QOC is a multidisciplinary section that aims to improve the quality and organization of public, curative, and palliative health care for citizens, patients and health care professionals, organizations and health care systems by performing research and translating scientific knowledge into practice, policy and education.
Within this section, my research falls within the research group Amsterdam Risk & Health Literacy: we perform inter- and transdisciplinary research to make health (risk) communication and healthcare organization more broadly understandable and accessible, both in public, occupational and clinical care. We work closely with clinical departments and The National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM)