Minor Digital Health: an interdisciplinary approach (88M49)
The healthcare system in the Netherlands is under enormous pressure. Health care costs are on the rise, there is a shortage of health care staff, and there is immense working pressure. With an aging population, these problems will likely increase. Digital tools and technologies – varying from health data science and electronical patient portals to eHealth and mHealth apps and innovative new approaches such as chatbots, generative AI, and virtual reality – are often presented as potential solutions to aforementioned problems.
There is no consensus however on the impact, efficacy, and ethical implications of such tools. How do you make sure that digital tools reach practice and which tools are effective in the long run? How can people with lower socio-economic status also benefit from digital solutions? In the minor ‘Digital Health’ you learn to reflect on the use of digital tools in health care by taking into account different research perspectives.
Who is this minor interesting for?
This minor is intended for students that are interested in digital applications in health settings. These may include students of all Schools and programs of Tilburg University, including (but not limited to) students in the Communication Sciences program, (Clinical) psychology, Data Science, Global Management of Social Issues, Philosophy, or Online Culture. In the minor, you will collaborate with students from all different bachelor programs. The minor can only be followed in Dutch.
General information
| Number of ECTS: | 18/30 ECTS >> The full minor consists of 30 ECTS. For students in programs that offer 18 ECTS of minor space, there is the possibility of taking a subset of three minor courses. In order to include this minor in their program and have this minor name listed on the course transcript provided with their diploma, students have to take the ‘Digital Health in Practice’ course, and may choose freely from two other courses within the program. |
| Semester: | Semester 1 (4 courses) and Semester 2 (1 course) |
| Entry requirements: | This minor is open to students from all bachelor's programs within Tilburg University. Please check yourself, through your study advisor, whether you can take this minor from your study program. |
| Language: | Dutch (only) |
Courses
Health Communication (Semester 1, 80080-B-6, IN DUTCH)
Health communication is all around us in daily life. For example, through government campaigns about smoking cessation or a conversation with your doctor or GP, but also through posts on social media about which sports activities your friends have done or a health app on your smartphone informing you about how many steps you have taken today. These are all forms of health communication. How health communication is presented can influence how people process these messages and deal with healthy behavior. Within the Health Communication course, these different forms of communication are central, and students gain knowledge and insight into important theories and empirical findings regarding health communication. Topics that will be discussed include the different forms of (digital) health communication, how to take different target groups into account, and which forms of health communication can be used effectively to stimulate healthy behavior among different target groups. This course is offered by the Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences.
Digital Technology in Mental Health (Semester 1, 800927-B-6, IN DUTCH)
There is increased pressure on the mental wellbeing of people as well as on professionals working in mental healthcare. Within this course, students will explore how digital tools can assists both patients receiving mental healthcare as well as professionals offering this care. Empirical evidence as well as perspectives from clinical practitioners (working in psychotherapy) and patients are discussed. Digital Tools may include Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), Ecological Momentary Intervention (EMI), wearables, virtual reality, and digital (self-help) training. In each of these sub-areas we address key challenges related to digital technology, such as rapid declines in patient compliance and the (un)ethical use of technology. We will discuss validated criteria to enable students to critically evaluate mental health applications for themselves. In some practice-oriented lectures, students will learn how to set up an EMA/EMI protocol themselves and how to interpret the results in a clinically meaningful way. From the patient's perspective, they will reflect on what it is like to collect this personal data in everyday life. This course is offered by the Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Digital Health: Ethics, Rules and Culture (Semester 1, 800868-B-6, IN DUTCH)
The rise of digital health tools and interventions raises many questions. What impact do these apps have on daily life? How do these change the way we understand ourselves and interact with each other? Do they make us feel in control, or not? Can digital technologies help to improve care? These are some of the questions we will address in this course. They are relevant given the increasing role that new media and communication technologies play in how people access health information, and how they understand their own health and that of others. Our goal is to critically examine these recent changes, using various concepts and theories from ethics, regulation theory, and cultural sciences. We will explore various cases, such as health sites that offer tests and information, feedback platforms for healthcare providers, but also the impact of big tech on our health behavior and thinking. This course is offered by the Tilburg Law School and Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences.
Technology for a Healthy Lifestyle (Semester 1, 800869-B-6, IN DUTCH)
The digital transformation of the food environment, encompassing supermarket websites, self-scanning apps, and food delivery apps, presents both opportunities and threats to responsible consumption, especially in encouraging (or not) healthy food choices. This course explores factors influencing food choices at individual and systemic levels in a digital era. Students will learn about consumer behavior in digital choice environments, understanding the shift from physical to digital channels. The course covers digital decision architecture elements such as nudges, icons, in-app marketing, food swaps, recommender systems, and search engines. Emphasis is placed on unique benefits like just-in-time interventions and personalisation. Broader aspects of the digital food environment, including social media's role (health influencers, recipes, and misinformation), will be discussed as well. The digital divide in the use and effects of digital food environments on healthy food choices across socioeconomic groups is also covered. This course is offered by the Tilburg School of Economics and Management, Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences and Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
Digital Health in Practice (Semester 2, 800926-B-6, IN DUTCH)
The central question of this course is: what can be done to increase the likelihood of successful implementation of digital techniques in practice? Unfortunately, it still happens far too often that new insights have difficulty finding their way into practice. This course discusses how relevant stakeholders can be involved in new developments and implementation processes from the very beginning through co-creation, and how we can increase the chances of successful implementation. Students will work together in interdisciplinary groups on practical problems provided by partners of the academic collaborative center. Under the guidance of experts from the university and practice partners, students work on a science-based plan of action, which they present to the client at the end. In addition to the group assignment, students write an individual essay on a topic related to challenges and opportunities of digital health technologies in practice. This course is offered by the Tilburg Academic Collaborative Center on Digital Health & Mental Wellbeing.
After the minor
There are many master's programs within Tilburg University for which the Digital Health minor can be a good preparation and inspiration: the issues surrounding (digital) health and well-being have psychological, economic, or legal aspects, for example, and there are also important open questions around the responsible use of data. In addition, the minor is also a good step towards more specialised masters such as Medical and Clinical Psychology (TSB), the Master track Organising and Managing Digital Transformation (within the MSc Organisation and Management Studies, TSB), and the master's in Communication and Information Sciences (TSHD). Each of these has its own perspective. Lecturers from each of these master programs are also involved in the minor.
In the minor, there is collaboration with various societal partners within the healthcare system. Collaboration with societal partners such as hospitals, health insurers, app developers but also institutions like the GGZ (mental health services) will give students a unique insight into healthcare practice.
More information
Detailed and up-to-date information about this minor in the academic year 2024-2025 can be found in the Osiris Catalogue from 1 August.
If you have any questions about this minor, please contact: Saar Hommes and/or Kim Tenfelde.