Knowledge from the hotel industry used in research into home recovery for colon cancer patients

A consortium from the Medical Delta Living Lab Better In Better Out that is conducting research into faster and better home recovery of colon cancer patients after surgery, has been awarded a KIEM grant by SIA. A special component of the research is that Hotelschool The Hague is involved in the project, which is titled 'A five-star experience at home'.

Being admitted to hospital for an operation has a major impact on people with cancer. Even if the operation went well medically speaking, there is often a lot of uncertainty among patients after their discharge from hospital. This is due to the complexity and multitude of treatments. This is exacerbated if the discharge process is not optimal and does not meet patients' needs. It can lead to delayed recovery, unnecessary readmissions to hospital and stress and uncertainty for patients and their relatives.

Healthcare professionals sometimes have insufficient knowledge of what people need after oncological surgery in order to feel well again in their own living environment. They also often do not (adequately) know how they can jointly contribute to this from primary and secondary care. In addition, it is often unknown how care technology can support care providers and cancer patients in their living environment.

Check out

The aim of the research project 'A five-star experience at home' is to promote the recovery and well-being of patients and their loved ones after oncological surgery. One way of doing this is by investigating how healthcare professionals and informal care workers can use technology to contribute to a smooth transition from hospital to home. The knowledge and skills from the hotel profession will be used as a starting point for the discharge procedure. After all, the check-out process has been perfected in the hotel industry and contributes to the good appreciation of the hotel visit.

The study is divided into two phases:

Phase 1: The discharge process is reviewed, based on research of the wishes and needs of cancer patients and their loved ones and on the experience of healthcare professionals and the hospitality industry.

Phase 2: Research is being done on how technological developments (such as self-monitoring) can contribute to the recovery of cancer patients in their own living environment.

De Haagse Hogeschool, Hogeschool Rotterdam, Haaglanden Medical Centre and the University Cancer Centre Leiden-Den Haag work together in the Medical Delta Living Lab Better In Better Out. For this specific research project, the consortium is strengthened by Hotelschool The Hague, Inn4Cure, B&B Healthcare and Erasmus MC.

New insights from hotel industry

"Because of the cooperation between the hotel sector and the healthcare sector, this research transcends disciplines. It will undoubtedly provide new insights for the healthcare sector and strengthen the ability to think outside the box, which in turn contributes to innovation," says lecturer Dr Angelique Lombarts, who works at Hotelschool The Hague. "At the same time, it introduces future employees in the healthcare and hospitality industry to another side of 'care' and broadens both their solution palettes." According to lecturer and oncological surgeon Dr Joost van der Sijp, who works at De Haagse Hogeschool and Haaglanden Medical Centre, this also contributes to increasing the exchangeability of staff between the hotel sector and the healthcare sector, where there were already major staff shortages before the corona epidemic.

The research project is relevant to the hospital because a better discharge process leads to fewer readmissions, less uncertainty among patients who call from home, for example, and more satisfied patients. For the care professionals, it is important that there is a good network of primary care professionals and that the transfer from the hospital goes well, so that they can provide optimal care. The company Inn4Cure can thus further develop their self-monitoring in the field of lifestyle and well-being indicators. But above all, it is relevant for the patient and his/her relatives because it promotes well-being and recovery.

The studies will start early next year; the first results are expected in mid-2022.