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Explaining adherence to portal-supported rehabilitation treatments : an explorative study

Buimer, H.P. (2015) Explaining adherence to portal-supported rehabilitation treatments : an explorative study.

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Abstract:Patient adherence is an important issue in healthcare treatments, such as rehabilitation treatments. Adherence occurs when patients behave in line with agreed prescriptions from care professionals. Previous studies have shown that low adherence can result in negative health outcomes. The use of e-health technologies in rehabilitation treatments, such as portals, is increasing and might be useful to increase adherence. Therefore, it is important to explore the determinants for adherence to portal-supported rehabilitation treatments, which is the main objective of this study. Interviews and monitoring portal usage were used to collect information from patients and care professionals from three different treatments in a rehabilitation centre concerning oncology, lung diseases, and chronic pain. The study showed that (perceived) severity of the disease, perceived benefits from the treatment, environmental factors, and social influence by care professionals and fellow patients are determinants for patient adherence to rehabilitation treatments. Acceptance and use of the portal by patients was determined by the relevance of the portal functionalities within the treatment, the efforts it took to use the portal, the facilitating conditions of the portal, and social influence by care professionals. The most important determinants for acceptance and use of the portal by care professionals were relevance of the portal within the treatment, the role of the portal within the treatment, and the ease of use for patients. Finally, the interaction between care professionals and patients has proven to influence patient adherence to portal-supported rehabilitation treatments. The study found that when care professionals are not using and not stimulating usage of the portal, the usage by patients will decline. To counter this phenomenon, a portal requires functionalities that are perceived as relevant to the treatment by care professionals, and should be launched alongside solid facilitating conditions.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:05 communication studies
Programme:Communication Studies MSc (60713)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/67090
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