PhD defence Thomáy-Claire Ayala Hoelen
Supervisors: Prof. dr. P.C.P.H. Willems, Prof. dr. L.W. van Rhijn, Prof. dr. J.J.C. Arts
Co-supervisor: Dr. G. van Mastrigt
Keywords: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, Care pathway, Healthcare innovation, societal impact
"The Journey of Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, Investigating strategies for optimizing treatment of AIS and exploring lifelong impact"
This thesis investigated how care for people with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) can be improved. AIS is a spinal deformity that develops during growth and has no known cause. It mapped the AIS care pathway, from the initial diagnosis to monitoring and treatment. It also explored new approaches that could support and improve care. These included a personalised 3D-printed brace and an analysis of differences in walking patterns between adolescents with and without scoliosis. Finally, the thesis examined the broader impact of scoliosis. It considered not only healthcare use, but also the consequences for patients, families, work and society. Furthermore, the research showed that changes in standard prices used to value healthcare can substantially affect calculated societal costs. Together, the studies demonstrate that scoliosis is more than a curvature of the spine and that improving care requires attention to its medical, personal and societal impact.
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