In this thesis, we focus on developing behaviours for socially interactive agents (SIAs). The context in which the agent is used is a self-regulated learning system for children. We focus on personalising learning objectives and interaction content within an intelligent tutoring system (ITS). We envision …

Surviving a burn can dramatically alter a child’s life, yet few studies examined long-term health-related quality of life (HRQL). This study assessed HRQL 5–7 years post-burn in children with mild/intermediate and severe burns and identified associated factors. Parents of children (5− < 18 years) who …

Background: Multimodal prehabilitation programs are effective at reducing complications after colorectal surgery in patients with a high risk of postoperative complications due to low aerobic capacity and/or malnutrition. However, high implementation fidelity is needed to achieve these effects in real-life …

Many organizations are seeing an increase in employees balancing work with informal caregiving. To support them, a workplace participatory approach (PA) intervention was implemented in four Dutch organizations. This study evaluated the implementation, influencing factors, and stakeholder experiences. A …

BACKGROUND: Healthcare professionals in the hospital setting frequently assume primary caregiving responsibilities, which often leads family members to perceive this as standard practice during hospitalization. This dynamic may create a gap between actual and desired levels of family involvement. The …

Quality improvements (QIs) in dynamic and complex health care contexts require resilience and take variability into account in quality improvement. The Functional Resonance Analysis Method (FRAM) helps us understand resilience and gain insight into (un)desirable variability in the complex system of daily …

In many western countries informal care is conceived as the answer to the increasing care demand. Little is known how formal and informal caregivers collaborate in the context of an diverse ageing population. The aim of this study was to gain insight in how professionals’ perspectives regarding the collaboration …

By 2050, the proportion of the world’s population that is over 60 will nearly double from 12% to 22%, representing nearly 2 billion older people worldwide. In response, the United Nations declared 2021–2030 to be the Decade of Healthy Aging, aiming to improve the lives of older people, their families, …

With age, people often develop multiple health problems, chronic illnesses, and frailty. For geriatric adults with frailty, there is a complex interplay of medical, psychological, cognitive, functional, and social issues. As a result, even a minor medical event can disrupt the delicate balance of their …

Chapter 1: General introduction. A specific group of people with disabilities includes individuals with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD). However, individuals with PIMD form a heterogeneous group regarding the origins of their underlying conditions leading to profound disabilities …