Health Innovations and Technology

Dear Colleagues,

As a result of demographic changes, worldwide, the relative and absolute number of older people has substantially increased. At the same time, the prevalence of chronic diseases forms a significant challenge for health care. Technological development (in the broadest sense) is, on the one hand, strongly related to these demographic changes. On the other hand, it is also considered as a solution to cope with chronic disease, and specifically for the support of living independently despite old age. In general, it bears the promise to improve the quality of health care and quality of life.

The actual use of technological innovations (e.g., eHealth) in the context of health care, as well as the nature of chronic health problems, which often are part of multi-morbidity and complex health conditions, are complicated. For technology to be implemented in health care programmes and to be part of daily living, many stakeholders have to be considered. Not only for the patients themselves, but also for the formal and informal caregivers, as well as, for example, technological, organisational, financial, and policy stakeholders. All parties have a perspective on these innovations, and only if these perspectives are well aligned, technological innovations have the potential for success (i.e., adding value to health care and supporting quality of life for persons with chronic conditions).

This Special Issue welcomes studies and reviews that consider the perspectives of several stakeholders on technological innovations for chronic disease conditions. All chronic conditions can be addressed. As for stakeholders, especially from the perspectives of patients, their informal and formal caregivers that make use of innovative technologies that are used to support the autonomy and self-management of patients with chronic health conditions, both community living and in nursing homes, are important. In addition, the perspectives of other parties who are part of the studies of the views of (informal) caregivers and patients with chronic diseases, are appreciated. The goal of this Issue is to provide an overview of what it takes, starting with the primary stakeholders, to establish sustainable, personalised chronic health care that improves quality of life and quality of health care.

This Special Issue will provide readers with state-of-the-art theory and practical information on human and social perspectives that determine the uptake of technological innovations in the daily life of persons living with a chronic condition.

Prof. Dr. Eveline J.M. Wouters
Guest Editor

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