Patient-Centered Health Information Systems
Within the research line of
patient-centered health information systems
we offer topics for analysis, design, implementation, and evaluation in the following areas for a bachelor's, master's, diploma, or seminar thesis:
- Patient Engagement, Patient Empowerment, Shared Decision-Making
- Patient Pathways
- Health Care Networks
Patient Pathways and Care Pathways
| Artificial Intelligence for Care Pathways | |
|---|---|
|
The use of artificial intelligence for selected tasks within healthcare is increasing in intensity, variety, and quality. While the state of research and implementation in practice is well advanced in pioneering scenarios (e.g., radiology), procedural perspectives, among others, still offer great potential for research and innovation. Integrated care pathways (and/or patient pathways) venture the balancing act between inter-organizational process standardization and coordination and personalized medicine, both conceptually and in their IT-supported application. The Digital Health research group is looking for conceptual and prototypical approaches to combine AI methods and pathway systems synergistically. |
|
| Implementation of Pathways | |
|---|---|
|
So far, there is no uniform recommendation for the implementation of patient pathways in individual institutions or care networks - neither is the implementation process methodically supported nor are users provided with design recommendations to define and implement the appropriate depth of implementation for their context. Against this background, the aim is to investigate how the implementation of paths can be supported and how the success of implementation can be evaluated. Furthermore, the standardization of the implementation of patient pathways will be examined. |
|
| Rehabilitation Pathways | |
|---|---|
| Digital assistants are increasingly supporting rehabilitation. At the same time, there is a growing desire/understanding to bring process standards into integrated care. The extent to which the concept of clinical pathways is suitable for the requirements of integrated care and, in particular, technology support of follow-up care in the home environment should be examined. A particular challenge will be linking daily routines and patient status with the pathway model, which is actually designed sequentially. | |
| Processes in Endoprosthetics |
| In endoprosthetics, efficient and well-coordinated processes are crucial for the success of operations and patient satisfaction. A structured patient pathway can help to optimize processes and improve patient care. This scientific work aims to create a detailed patient pathway for the endoprosthetic treatment process and identify possible weak points in the process as well as potential for improvement. |
| Community | |
|---|---|
| The aim of this thesis is to develop a community model that promotes the exchange and collaborative creation of patient pathways. A central aspect is the conception and development of suitable technical artifacts, such as a repository, in which patient pathways and associated best practices for the healthcare sector can be made available. Based on the development of European cancer care and research structures, the work will examine how such a community can be structured and organized. To this end, requirements for technical and organizational implementation will be derived. It would be desirable if the general research results of the reference modeling could be incorporated into the design. | |
Patient Empowerment and Integration
| Evaluation of methods for patient empowerment and engagement: analysis and comparison of current approaches |
| Patient empowerment and engagement are crucial factors for successful healthcare and positive patient outcomes. Various methods for empowering patients in their active role in the healthcare process have been established. But which of these methods are the most effective and can be considered “best practices”? This scientific paper aims to analyze and compare common methods of patient empowerment and engagement and identify best practices. This work will provide a comprehensive overview of the most effective patient empowerment and engagement strategies and make valuable recommendations for implementing these best practices in clinical and health policy practice. |
| Patient Empowerment: Differences between generations |
| The concept of patient empowerment is becoming increasingly important in modern healthcare. However recognize that different generations have different expectations, needs, and preferences regarding their health. By understanding these differences, targeted empowerment strategies can be developed tailored to each generation's specific characteristics. This includes conducting a literature review to collect existing studies and data on the patient empowerment strategies of different generations (e.g., Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, Generation Z) and analyzing the differences in expectations, preferences, and behaviors regarding health information and decisions. |
| Development, evaluation, and dissemination of a patient leaflet to optimize doctor-patient consultations |
| In Germany, the average duration of a consultation between patients and doctors is around seven minutes. This short time span requires efficient use to provide patients with the best possible information and support. However, studies show that patients forget an average of 40 to 80% of the information they receive during the consultation as soon as they leave the room. The aim of this scientific work is to develop (or further develop) a leaflet that helps patients prepare optimally for consultation with doctors, supports them during the appointment, and contributes to better retention of information. Pilot studies will then be carried out to evaluate the effectiveness and user-friendliness of the leaflet from the perspective of patients and doctors. Finally, dissemination will be addressed through planning and implementing strategies for disseminating and implementing the leaflet in practice. |
| Digital patient integration in the context of palliative care |
| The aim of this thesis is to examine the opportunities and challenges of digital patient involvement in the field of palliative care. The aim is to identify approaches and digital technologies that can contribute to improved communication, symptom control, and support for the autonomy of palliative care patients. Existing applications and concepts will be examined that could enable patients and their relatives to play an active role in the last phase of life and improve their quality of life without losing sight of the special situation of those affected. The work also focuses on taking ethical and practical aspects into account in order to assess the acceptance and effectiveness of such digital solutions and develop recommendations for their use. |
Health care networks
| Potentials and challenges of telemedicine in rural health networks: An analysis of success factors and barriers in Germany |
| The topic offers the opportunity to investigate innovative approaches to securing medical care in structurally weak regions. The focus here is on the opportunities offered by telemedicine to overcome geographical distances and alleviate the shortage of doctors. The work highlights success factors for the implementation of digital healthcare solutions and analyzes obstacles such as a lack of technical infrastructure, legal barriers, and acceptance problems. The aim is to develop practice-oriented recommendations for the broader use of digital solutions in regional healthcare networks and thus contribute to closing gaps in care. |
If you are interested, please e-mail a brief presentation of your ideas or subject interests, including your CV, to .