The Netherlands has around 10 million people with a chronic condition who rely on medicines every day. Unfortunately, while medicines can provide relief, they can also cause issues such as side effects. These problems are often only noticed during scheduled appointments, even though patients frequently experience them between these moments. This thesis shows how smart healthcare technology (eHealth) can help patients identify medication-related problems sooner, discuss them more easily with a healthcare professional, and resolve them more effectively. For example, patients appreciate being able to chat with a pharmacist, and a smart thermometer can help ensure that refrigerated medicines are stored correctly at home. This thesis also shows that patients’ eHealth preferences vary depending on their situation, implying that a mix of digital tools is likely to be most helpful. To achieve this, it is essential to involve both patients and healthcare professionals in designing and implementing eHealth solutions.
Lex (1994) obtained his Master's degree in Biomedical Sciences at the Radboud University in 2020. In 2020 he started with his PhD research at the departments of Rheumatology and Pharmacy of the Sint Maartenskliniek. Currently, he is working as a business manager at the department of Internal Medicine of the Radboud university medical center.