Pairing Programme – Seniors List

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Senior’s Name: Marij Hillen
Availability: 2/3
Attending ICCH 2024: In person

Pairing - Junior

Title: Associate Professor
Institution: Amsterdam University Medical Centers, The Netherlands
Discipline: Psychology
Years of experience: 11

Research

Areas of work:

  • Medical education
  • Nonverbal communication
  • Oncology
  • Patient–provider relationship
  • uncertainty

Research methods:

  • Observational studies
  • Qualitative methods
  • (Quasi-)experiential designs
  • Video analysis

Keywords describing expertise and interest:

  1. Uncertainty
  2. Trust

Field of expertise, major interests, and consultation topics:

The main focus of my research program is on uncertainty in medicine, particularly how uncertainty is discussed in medical interaction. Related topic of interest to me are trust, non-verbal communication, and (shared) decision-making. Additionally I have a strong interest in methods for studying healthcare communication. I am involved in methodological studies and guideline development regarding experimental vignette-based studies, and systematic coding of observer communication. Furthermore, I actively translate and implement the outcomes of healthcare communication research into training for healthcare professionals.

Biography/CV:

Marij Hillen is an associate professor, Principal Educator, VENI and VIDI recipient at Amsterdam UMC. She researches provider-patient interaction with the aim to enhance complex communication and the relation between patients and their physicians. The focus of her research line is on patient-physician trust and uncertainty in medicine. Particularly, she studies how uncertainty is discussed in medical interactions, to eventually generate guidance for clinicians to optimize their communication about uncertainty. Ultimately, her aim is to reduce the burden uncertainty places on patients and healthcare professionals.

Marij conducts her work uncertainty using both established and innovative research methods. These include conceptual analysis (e.g., creating a conceptual model of tolerance for uncertainty), experimental studies using video-vignettes (e.g., systematically testing effects of clinician communication on patients’ trust), behavioral analysis of real-life interaction (e.g., assessing communication in second opinion consultations), and qualitative empirical work (e.g., interviewing patients about uncertainty). To enhance the reliability and validity of her own and others’ research, she maintains a strong emphasis on improving research methodology. For example, she has conducted empirical studies to generate guidance on optimally conducting experimental studies using video vignettes. Recently, she organized an international workshop to establish multi-disciplinary guidelines for reporting about observational coding of communication.

Marij obtained over €2.800.000,- in research grants, of which over €1.350.000,- through personal fellowships. She authored over 65 international peer-reviewed publications. She has successfully supervised and currently supervises multiple PhD, masters’ and bachelors’ students. Additionally, she heads and/or contributes to leading national and international professional associations within her research field. For example, she was co-lead of the research committee of EACH, and co-chair of the 2022 International Conference for Communication in Healthcare (ICCH). Marij is associate editor for Patient Education and Counseling, journal of the International Association for Communication in Healthcare.

Marij’s work is characterized by high societal relevance. She collaborates intensively with clinicians in various medical settings to ensure her research directly addresses problems experienced in clinical practice. Vice versa, she translates her findings into practical recommendations, education and training for medical students and healthcare professionals.