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Theses

Are you interested in writing your thesis in a subject area of the Chair of Health Economics, Policy and Management?

We look forward to hearing from you!

Please find below further information on the application process for Bachelor’s and Master’s theses. If you are interested in writing a Master’s thesis with us, we highly recommend having a look at the «Boost your Master's Thesis in Health Science!»
The official guidelines of the University of St.Gallen apply to final theses. We have developed a clearly structured and transparent scheme for the evaluation of theses. Should you decide to write your thesis at the Chair of Health Economics, Policy and Management, we will be happy to share the evaluation scheme with you at the beginning of the writing process.

Special regulations apply to students of the Joint Medical Master JMM-HSG/UZH.

 

Topics for future theses at the chair of Health Economics, Policy and Management

These are suitable for Bachelor's and Master's theses and can be written in German or English. For each topic, an indication of whether qualitative or quantitative skills are required is given. Generally, applications from all students of management, finance, economics, international affairs, and medicine (Joint Medical Master JMM-HSG/UZH) are welcome.

Topic Description Skills

How can Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) shape the future of managing and preventing obesity and Type 2 diabetes (T2D)?

contact persons:
Maxime Sapin
Irene Salvi

This thesis investigates the role of Therapeutic Patient Education (TPE) in the prevention and management of obesity and Type 2 diabetes (T2D). TPE empowers patients by equipping them with the knowledge and skills to take active control of their condition, promoting long-term lifestyle changes in diet, physical activity, and self-monitoring. In the context of chronic diseases such as T2D, patient self-management is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of effective care, particularly in light of the rising burden of obesity-related complications.

Qualitative skills

How can public reporting most effectively support patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) in managing their own health?

contact persons:
Maxime Sapin
Irene Salvi

This thesis could investigate how public reporting can most effectively help patients with Type 2 diabetes (T2D) manage their own health. Public reporting provides patients with transparent information about healthcare quality, such as provider performance, treatment success rates, patient satisfaction, and access to specialized services. For T2D patients, these tools can serve as a valuable resource to compare healthcare providers, choose high-quality diabetes care services, and engage more actively in their disease management.

Qualitative skills

Personalization in screening programs

contact persons:
Jonas Subelack
Irene Salvi

Current screening programs, such as breast cancer screening, often follow a standardized approach where all individuals in a target population are screened at regular intervals. However, there is increasing interest in personalizing these programs by using individual risk factors, genetic predispositions, or even AI-based risk prediction models. Researching how different countries are incorporating personalized approaches in their screening programs, or if they are already using advanced risk stratification tools, could uncover opportunities for more targeted and efficient healthcare interventions. This could not only be applied to breast cancer but also to other conditions where personalized screening could improve early detection and outcomes.

Qualitative skills

Hospital (capacity) planning in Asia

contact persons:
Jonas Subelack
Irene Salvi

Effective hospital capacity planning is essential for ensuring healthcare systems can meet patient demand while optimizing resources. Switzerland has already pioneered innovative approaches, and Germany is currently developing a new model inspired by Switzerland’s efforts. However, a broader international perspective is crucial, particularly in fast-developing regions like Asia. Many Asian countries are rapidly modernizing their healthcare infrastructure and are more willing to gather and utilize sensitive data. With fewer legacy systems in place, these countries have the flexibility to adopt cutting-edge strategies. Examining how Asian nations are embracing data-driven capacity planning can offer valuable lessons for global healthcare management and especially for planning, forecasting, and tracking hospital needs. 

Qualitative skills

What are the benefits and effects of a national plan against cancer?

contact persons:
Marcel Blum
Irene Salvi

Cancer is a leading cause of death. Yet, over 30% of cancers are preventable and more deaths can be avoided by implementing evidence-based strategies for cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment. Most western countries, such as Germany or France, have implemented a national cancer plan. The European Union has launched the «Europe's Beating Cancer Plan”, which aims are on the whole cancer pathway, starting form prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, as well as quality of life for cancer patients and survivors. In Switzerland, however, after a first national strategy against cancer started in 2014 and ran out by the end of 2020, only in February 2024, the Swiss parliament agreed on a renewed national plan against cancer. In this research question, you could focus on the reasons why a national plan against cancer was only lately agreed on. What backslash could be expected due to the delayed implementation? Integrate findings from other countries with or without a national cancer plan. How do patients benefit from a national cancer plan? Qualitative skills

Access to mental health care facilities in rural areas / cantons

contact persons:
Marcel Blum
Irene Salvi

Mental health is a predominant topic and the number of people seeking treatment in mental health is rising steadily. Yet, barriers to seek support still exist and might be too high for people getting treatment in an early stage of mental health illness. Social stigma, misconceptions, pressure at the work- or study-place, or financial barriers hinder people seeking professional help. Various studies suggest that people living in urban areas have more likely a mental disorder, yet the number of mental health facilities and services are higher in urban areas. Other studies showed that in rural areas, social stigma was was deeply ingrained, leading to reluctance in seeking help. Address the situations of mental health and the access to mental health facilities and services in the urban and rural cantons of Switzerland. Is the prevalence of mental health higher in urban cantons? Qualitative skills

The effects of guideline-directed medical therapy on hospitalizations: literature review

contact persons:
Irene Salvi
Justus Vogel

The thesis will focus on conducting a literature review to examine the effects of adhering to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) on potentially avoidable hospitalizations. Guideline-directed medical therapy refers to the use of treatment protocols and recommendations based on best practices to optimize patient outcomes. The review will explore the extent to which following these guidelines impacts hospital admissions that could have been avoided with appropriate outpatient care or timely intervention. Several studies have suggested that GDMT adherence in conditions such as heart failure, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is associated with reduced hospitalization rates and better health outcomes over time. The goal of this review is to synthesize findings from existing studies to gather information on the extent to which long-term compliance with medical guidelines significantly reduces hospitalizations. The insights gained from this review will contribute to the identification of crucial inputs for further modelling of the long-term effects of guideline adherence on potentially avoidable hospitalizations. 

Qualitative skills
The topics are reviewed and updated on an ongoing basis. If you have a topic suggestion of your own, we look forward to hearing from you. 

 

Application process

Health Economics, Policy and Management

JMM-HSG/UZH

 

Guidelines of the University of St.Gallen

Bachelor's Theses

Masters' Theses

 

 

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