Dr. Hendriks has an expertise in the field of Redesigning Health Care. This is a broad and dynamic research area which is evolving rapidly. His major interest goes out to Integrated Chronic Care Management in cardiac care – heart rhythm diseases, particularly atrial fibrillation (AF), and the translation of this approach in chronic heart disease, integrating primary and secondary care services. This includes related topics like patient educational and self-management interventions, shared decision making, and interventions to improve guideline adherence.

Dr Hendriks is an academic nurse and research scientist with a particular interest in:

1. Integrated Care management of patients with cardiac arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation, and associated cardiovascular conditions.
2. Implementation of novel models of care delivery and the required redesign of practices.
3. The role of multidisciplinary teams in terms of efficiency, effectiveness and coordination of care delivery.
4. The role of active patient involvement within integrated care approaches, including topics such as patient education, self-management, lifestyle modification and shared decision making.
5. Evidence based guideline development and evaluation of guideline adherence in the management of cardiovascular patients.

AVAILABLE PROJECTS FOR HONOURS/PHD STUDENTS

Integrated Care in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation – The iCARE-AF Study.

This is a large multi-centre, multi-state RCT recruiting patients with Atrial Fibrillation and comparing the effectiveness in delivery an integrated care approach (i.e. patient centred, multidisciplinary team and using smart technology for patients and health care team) versus usual care by a cardiologist.

Multiple areas for research (including clinical, process as well as patient reported outcomes) will be available through this trial and any prospective students should contact Dr Hendriks in the first instance.