Condition
When developing e-health, it is important to have knowledge of the condition in question and its impact on patients’ lives.
Information about the condition
It is important to know how often the condition occurs, how it typically progresses, and what the best treatment options are. This information helps you estimate the number of users of your e-health application, how long they are likely to use it, and how your application aligns with patients’ care or treatment.
Keep in mind that there can be both “mild” and “severe” forms of the condition, and that patients may differ in age, ethnic background, or gender. A good understanding of the condition allows you to “personalise” your e-health application for different subgroups (see also Domain 4 on intended users).
National and international data on conditions are available, as well as scientific and non-scientific sources. You can also consult patients, patient organisations, or healthcare and social care professionals. Possible sources include:
Thuisarts.nl
Reliable information on illnesses and health, created and maintained by doctors.
Zorgkaartnederland.nl [patient organisation]
A website for finding patient associations in your area or focused on a specific disease or condition.
Kanker.nl [experiences of others]
A website sharing experiences of people with cancer.