Tilburg center for Cognition and Communication (TSHD) receives half a million from EU for research on therapy compliance
The European Commission has awarded 6 million euros under the Innovative Medicine Initiative (IMI) to the BEAMER research program ("BEhaviorial and Adherence Model for improving quality, health outcomes and cost-Effectiveness of healthcaRe"). In addition, the same amount has been contributed by industrial partners to collaborate with universities, hospitals, patient organizations and research agencies throughout Europe. A consortium of 28 parties, including Tilburg University, will investigate how patient compliance can be improved.
It is essential for patients to adhere to the treatment prescribed by the doctor. However, this is by no means easy for all patients. It is not uncommon for medication to be taken incorrectly or irregularly, and lifestyle changes (more exercise, healthier eating) can also be a component of therapy that patients have difficulty with. It is generally believed that the better patients adhere to therapy, the greater the chance of a positive outcome. Thus, better understanding and encouraging therapy adherence is an important research topic.
Improving quality of life
The goal of the IMI program is to develop and evaluate a model for improving the quality and (cost) effectiveness of healthcare in six different disease areas: cardiovascular, oncology, immunology, neurology, endocrinology, and rare diseases. Based on extensive data analysis of a wide range of factors that can predict and explain adherence, the European BEAMER model is being developed, with the aim of improving the quality of life of individuals and increasing the accessibility and sustainability of healthcare. The behavioral model also makes it possible to adapt different treatments to individual needs in the future.
A team of researchers from Tilburg University, consisting of Nadine Bol, Karin Slegers, Emiel Krahmer and Frans Folkvord, will spend the coming five years mainly analyzing existing sources, including literature and various datasets. They will work with patient groups to investigate which factors are important for them to stimulate adherence to treatment, particularly within oncology. Two PhD students will be appointed for the project.
For more information please contact spokesperson Tineke Bennema, via persvoorlichters@tilburguniversity.edu or tel. 06 19678521.