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PhD researcher defended his doctoral dissertation on February 25, 2026, on the topic of recommending patient expertise within online health communities. Cer贸n Guzm谩n shows how people can gain easier access to each other鈥檚 valuable experiences in these digital environments.

Digital experiences

The internet enables people around the world to share everyday experiences, including those related to health and lifestyle. Online health communities play an important role in this exchange. Patients contribute knowledge shaped by living with a condition, which can help others deal with uncertainty, new symptoms, or changing routines. Yet finding relevant information remains difficult, as new posts easily push earlier insights out of view and search tools do not always match what users need.

Human search

Cer贸n Guzm谩n examined how recommendation systems can support patients without requiring them to formulate precise search queries. His studies show that users make meaningful connections not through numbers or clinical details but through shared lived experiences. People with cardiovascular conditions, for example, want to learn from what others in similar situations encounter and how they manage their condition day to day.

Shared lifestyle

The research highlights that lifestyle plays a crucial role in identifying a suitable peer. Not the physiological data, but habits and everyday activities shape the search for relevant advice. For many patients, maintaining control over a normal daily life is essential, and peers with comparable routines offer recognition and practical ideas.

Personalized insights

Using crowdsourced data, Cer贸n Guzm谩n created a simulated digital community in which personal self-care strategies could be recommended. He compared the user experience of personalized and non-personalized suggestions. The results indicate that people benefit from recommendations that align with their own context, as these help them support everyday decisions more confidently.

Future of digital care platforms

The research offers design considerations for systems that help users connect with the right people and insights. Through a combination of iterative research and research through design, practical guidance emerges for developers of digital health platforms. These insights can contribute to environments where experiential knowledge is easier to access, enabling people to find and support each other more effectively.

Jhon Cer贸n Guzm谩n defended his thesis on February 25, 2026.
Title of the thesis:
Supervisors: Jun Hu, Panos Markopoulos, Dani毛l Tetteroo.