Mensgerichte gezondheidsinterventies

In this course, we examine when and why a systems perspective, along with systems science methods and successive design of innovations for health and disease, can contribute to improving individual health & well-being. In the theoretical part we will explain how the current standard-of-care approaches in health care evolved (knowledge base), identify its strengths and shortcomings, and explore where and how a systems approach can address specific limitations. We explore methods and technologies that enable personalized, patient-centered, value-driven, and safe care. Medical decision-making, on both diagnosis and treatment, is a key element in care and depends on understanding disease (mechanism), understanding the context, and seeing options for (human-centered) interventions. Both in the diagnostic trajectory as in designing or choosing treatment options, decision support systems can be of significant help and constitutes a key element of this course. The ethics of health technologies and the potential impact of integrating such solutions in care delivery on persons or society are discussed as an integral part of the innovation process. In the project part, we practice designing interventions for individual health and well-being, by taking a systems perspective on disease dynamics and/or finding novel intervention opportunities. These can be diagnostic tools, novel treatment strategies or technologies such as decision tools. Teachings from the theoretical part will be integrated into the project where applicable.

Topics covered are:

-        Key aspects of quality of care, including safety of care, concepts of personalised and patient-centered care, and (shared) decision-making.

-        The relevance of medical and societal paradigms on health, well-being and disease in finding solutions for what can be considered ‘good care’.

-        Knowledge base in health care, including research (methods) in medicine, with consideration of the ethics of (developing) health technology, clinical research and patient care.

-        Understanding and modelling disease as a complex evolving dynamic system between an agent (cause(s) of disease), host (patient) and treatment. This concept, and its implications in the context of potential systems-based health interventions is explained using a small variety of use cases including oncology, infectious disease and neurological disorders.

-        Design interventions that contribute to individual health & well-being