Stans Drossaert studied Health Promotion at Maastricht University and obtained her PhD on her thesis ‘Psychosocial aspects of breast cancer screening’ in 2002.

Her research interests are in the area of ‘patient empowerment and the role of technology herein'. She is interested in how (internet)technology can support patients (and caregivers) in managing their health, and help them lead happy, meaningful lives with the disease.  Within this theme, she studied topics such as shared decision-making, patient portals, e- monitoring and (digital) health literacy. In co-creation with end-users, she has developed various tools to promote self-management and (mental) health.  Drossaert has broad experience with both quantitative, qualitative and mixed-method research.

She is coordinator of the master spezialization Health Psychology & Technology, and teaches in both the bachelor and master of psychology.


Positions

  • Coördinator Mastertrack Health Psychology
  • Coördinator Masterthesis and Internships Health Psychology
  • Member Program Comittee Psychology
  • Member ZONMW comittee 'Vroege Opsporing' 
  • Member Association of Researchers in Psychology and Health

Expertise

  • Psychology

    • Wellbeing
    • Self-Compassion
    • Groups
    • Positive Psychology
    • Mental Health
  • Medicine and Dentistry

    • Patient
    • Breast Cancer
    • Health

Organisations

Stans Drossaert (co-)supervises the following PhD-projects:

R2D2- Development and evaluation of a digital multicomponent Positive Psychological Intervention (mPPI) for parents of children with Neuro Development Disorders. (funded by EU) With: Kim Tönis (PhD student), Peter ten Klooster, Wouter Staal  (Radboud UMC) and Ernst Bohlmeijer.

ENEP- Empowering nurses to empower their patients: the development and evaluation of a training for nurses to help recognize and support patients with low (digital) health literacy. (funded by ZONMW) with Eline Dijkman (PhDstudent, Isala), Jobke Wentzel (Windesheim) and Carine Doggen.

Gamified intervention to improve MASLD patients’ knowledge about illness and lifestyle. (funded by Saxion and MLD-fund) With: Sharon Oude Veldhuis (PhD-student, Saxion), Maureen Guichelaar (MST), Marjolein den Ouden (Saxion) and Lisette van Gemert.

Supporting Personalised Surveillance and after care in Breast cancer: the NABOR study (funded by ZE&GG/ ZONMW). With: Anneleen Klaassen (PhD Student, IKNL), Marissa van Maaren, Valesca Retel (EUR), Joke Korevaar (HHS)  & Sabine Siesling

Supporting cancer patients with Compas-Y. Evaluation of Compas-y in an SCED study. With: Jun Wang (PhD student, UMCG), Judith Austin, Ernst Bohlmeijer and Maya Schroevers (UMCG)

EChemocoach- Managing toxicity of (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy by applying electronic health portal-mediated monitoring and coaching of patient-reported side effects: a prospective randomized trial (funded by Dutch Cancer Society. KWF)With Rubin Verduin (PhD student),  Mathijs Hendriks (Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep), Agnes Jager (Erasmus MC), Corine van de Hurk (Santeon) and Sabine Siesling

SYMPHA-Early detection of symptoms using digital patient-reported symptom monitoring and a Fitbit to optimize care in metastatic breast cancer (funded by Dutch Cancer Society. KWF) With Lois Folkert  (PhD student),  Agnes Jager (Erasmus MC), Corine van de Hurk (Santeon), Mark Mulder (Erasmus MC), Matthijs Noordzij, Mathijs Hendriks (Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep) and Sabine Siesling

Blended Positive Psychology Intervention for patients with depression. With Femke Hagoort.  (external PhD student) Bart Geerlingh (Dimence), Miriam Radstaak en Ernst Bohlmeijer

Citizen Science in (breast) Cancer (funded by UT-Starters grantWith Maurits Lusseveld  (PhD student),  Ria Wolkorte, Jeanine van Til and Sabine Siesling

Empowering people with personality disorder with narrative approach. With Silvia Pol (PHD student), Heidi Toivonen (Franklin University, Switzerland), Gerben Westerhof, Floortje Scheepers (University Utrecht)

 

Finished PhD-projects

Jet Ankersmid (2024) The use of outcome information in shared decision-making about surveillance after breast cancer. With: Nelly van Uden (Santeon), Luc Strobbe and Sabine Siesling

Judith Austin (2023). Compassion in turbulent times. The co-design and mixed methods evaluation of a mobile self-compassion intervention for people with cancer. With Jelle van Dijk, Maya Schroevers, Robert Sanderman and Ernst Bohlmeijer.

Renate Willems (2021). The compassionate listener: resources and barriers for mental health in crisis line volunteers.  With Harald Miedema and Ernst Bohlmeijer.

Noortje Kloos (2000); Positive psychology in the nursing home: wellbeing of nursing home staff and residents. With Gerben Westerhof and Ernst Bohlmeijer.

Ingrid Nota (2017): Shared Decision Making in Rheumatology: what matters to patients. With Erik Taal, Mart van de Laar.

Marijke Schotanus (2016): How to flourish in everyday life? Enhancing Flourishing in Mental Health in the general population as a new strategy for the prevention of anxiety and depressive disorders. With Marcel Pieterse, Jan Walburg and Ernst Bohlmeijer.

Nadine Kohle (2016); Hold on, for each other, supporting partners of cancer patients via eHealth and positive psychology . With Robert Sanderman and Ernst Bohlmeijer.

Roos van de Vaart (2013). Rheumatology 2.0: empowering patients by eHealth. With Erik Taal, Mart van de Laar.

Nelly van Uden (2008). Online Peer Support for Patients with Somatic Diseases.  With Erik Taal, Mart van de Laar and Erwin Seydel.

Job van t Veer (2006). Determinants that shape public attitudes towards the mentally ill: A Dutch public study With Herro Kraan en Erwin Seydel.

Publications

2025

Different needs ask for different care: Breast cancer patients’ preferences regarding assessment of care needs and information provision in personalized aftercare (2025)European journal of oncology nursing, 76. Article 102873. Dekker-Klaassen, A., Drossaert, C. H. C., Folkert, L. S., van der Lee, M. L., Guerrero-Paez, C., Claassen, S., Korevaar, J. C., Siesling, S., Maaren, M. v., Retel, V., Leeuwen, E. v., Knottnerus, B., Burgers, J., Vrancken, M. J., Siemerink, E., Honkoop, A., Veltman, J., Zeillemaker, A., Mann, R., … Hezewijk, M. v.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2025.102873Perspectives of health care professionals on the value of physical examinations for early detection of breast cancer recurrences: more than just a detection method? (2025)Measurement and Evaluations in Cancer Care, 100016 (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Dekker-Klaassen, A., Godding, L. T. H., van Hezewijk, M., Korevaar, J. C., Wiegersma, J., Drossaert, C. H. C. & Siesling, S.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymecc.2025.100016Acceptability and potential benefit of a self-compassion intervention for people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a mixed methods pilot study (2025)Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Degeneration, 26(1-2), 29-39. Sommers-Spijkerman, M., Zwarts-Engelbert, A., Kruitwagen-Van Reenen, E., Van Eijk, R. P. A., Visser-Meily, J. M. A., Heijmans, E., Austin, J., Drossaert, C., Bohlmeijer, E. & Beelen, A.https://doi.org/10.1080/21678421.2024.2400516

2024

Effectiveness of a positive psychology and mindfulness-based app on mental health for parents of children with a neurodevelopmental disorder: study protocol of a pragmatic international randomized controlled trial (2024)Trials, 25. Article 412. Tönis, K., Drossaert, S. C. H. C., ten Klooster, P. M., Schaer, M., Bourgeron, T., Buitelaar, J. K., Sadaka, Y., Freitag, C. M., Mayer Lapidus, K., Chiocchetti, A. G., Staal, W. & Bohlmeijer, E. T.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-024-08256-wExploring the Benefits and Acceptance of Blended Positive Psychotherapy as an Adjunctive Treatment for Clients with Residual Depressive Symptoms: A Mixed-Method Study (2024)Journal of contemporary psychotherapy, 54(4), 315-325. Vergeer-Hagoort, F., Kraiss, J. T., Drossaert, C. H. C. & Bohlmeijer, E. T.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10879-024-09623-zShared decision-making supported by outcome information regarding surveillance after curative treatment for breast cancer: Results of the SHOUT-BC study (2024)European journal of cancer, 213. Article 115107. Ankersmid, J. W., Drossaert, C. H. C., Strobbe, L. J. A., Hackert, M. Q. N., Engels, N., Prick, J. C. M., Teerenstra, S., van Riet, Y. E. A., The, R., van Uden-Kraan, C. F. & Siesling, S.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2024.115107Regaining Mental Well-Being in the Aftermath of the Covid-19 Pandemic with a Digital Multicomponent Positive Psychology Intervention: A Randomized Controlled Trial (2024)Journal of happiness studies, 25(7). Article 86. Tönis, K. J. M., Kraiss, J. T., Drossaert, C. H. C., Karreman, J., Oostinga, M. S. D., Kloos, N., Austin, J. & Bohlmeijer, E. T.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-024-00793-0Barriers and Motivators for Implementation of Lifestyle Changes in a Large Population With Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (2024)EMJ Hepatology, 12(1), 42-43. Oude Veldhuis, S., Drossaert, S., den Ouden, M., van Gemert-Pijnen, L. & Guichelaar, M.https://doi.org/10.33590/EMJHEPATOL/DFOF9828The effectiveness of personalised surveillance and aftercare in breast cancer follow-up: a systematic review (2024)Supportive care in cancer, 32. Article 323. van Maaren, M. C., van Middelkoop-van Hoeve, J. C., Korevaar, J. C., van Hezewijk, M., Siemerink, E. J. M., Zeillemaker, A. M., Klaassen-Dekker, A., van Uden, D. J. P., Volders, J. H., Drossaert, S. C. H. C. & Siesling, S.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-024-08530-2Evaluation of the Implementation of the Dutch Breast Cancer Surveillance Decision Aid including Personalized Risk Estimates in the SHOUT-BC Study: A Mixed Methods Approach (2024)Cancers, 16(7). Article 1390. Ankersmid, J. W., Engelhardt, E. G., Lansink Rotgerink, F. K., The, R., Strobbe, L. J. A., Drossaert, C. H. C., Siesling, S. & van Uden-Kraan, C. F.https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers16071390

Research profiles

Stans Drossaert is involved as a lecturer in the Bachelor and Master Psychology. She is coördinator of the mastertrack 'Health Psychology & Technology' and is involved in the following courses:

  • Social (Developmental) Psychology (Ba-PSY)
  • Health Psychology (Ba-Psy)
  • Research Assignment (Ba-PSY)
  • Health Promotion (Ma-PSY)
  • Coping with Disease in a Digital Era (Ma-PSY)

In addition, she supervises students with their bachelor- and mastertheses or their internships in the field of Health Psychology.

Affiliated study programs

Courses academic year 2025/2026

Courses in the current academic year are added at the moment they are finalised in the Osiris system. Therefore it is possible that the list is not yet complete for the whole academic year.

Courses academic year 2024/2025

Courses academic year 2023/2024

Current PhD-Projects Stans Drossaert:R2D2- Development and evaluation of a digital multicomponent Positive Psychological Intervention (mPPI) for parents of children with Neuro Development Disorders. (funded by EU) With: Kim Tönis (PhD student), Peter ten Klooster, Wouter Staal  (Radboud UMC) and Ernst Bohlmeijer.

ENEP- Empowering nurses to empower their patients: the development and evaluation of a training for nurses to help recognize and support patients with low (digital) health literacy. (funded by ZONMW) with Eline Dijkman (PhDstudent, Isala), Jobke Wentzel (Windesheim) and Carine Doggen.

Gamified intervention to improve MASLD patients’ knowledge about illness and lifestyle. (funded by Saxion and MLD-fund) With: Sharon Oude Veldhuis (PhD-student, Saxion), Maureen Guichelaar (MST), Marjolein den Ouden (Saxion) and Lisette van Gemert.

Supporting Personalised Surveillance and after care in Breast cancer: the NABOR study (funded by ZE&GG/ ZONMW). With: Anneleen Klaassen (PhD Student, IKNL), Marissa van Maaren, Valesca Retel (EUR), Joke Korevaar (HHS)  & Sabine Siesling

Supporting cancer patients with Compas-Y. Evaluation of Compas-y in an SCED study. With: Jun Wang (PhD student, UMCG), Judith Austin, Ernst Bohlmeijer and Maya Schroevers (UMCG)

EChemocoach- Managing toxicity of (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy by applying electronic health portal-mediated monitoring and coaching of patient-reported side effects: a prospective randomized trial (funded by Dutch Cancer Society. KWF)With Rubin Verduin (PhD student),  Mathijs Hendriks (Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep), Agnes Jager (Erasmus MC), Corine van de Hurk (Santeon) and Sabine Siesling

SYMPHA-Early detection of symptoms using digital patient-reported symptom monitoring and a Fitbit to optimize care in metastatic breast cancer (funded by Dutch Cancer Society. KWF) With Lois Folkert  (PhD student),  Agnes Jager (Erasmus MC), Corine van de Hurk (Santeon), Mark Mulder (Erasmus MC), Matthijs Noordzij, Mathijs Hendriks (Noordwest Ziekenhuisgroep) and Sabine Siesling

Blended Positive Psychology Intervention for patients with depression. With Femke Hagoort  (External PhDStudent) Bart Geerlingh (Dimence), Miriam Radstaak en Ernst Bohlmeijer

Citizen Science in (breast) Cancer (funded by UT-Starters grantWith Maurits Lusseveld  (PhD student),  Ria Wolkorte, Jeanine van Til and Sabine Siesling

Empowering people with personality disorder with narrative approach. With Silvia Pol (PHD student), Heidi Toivonen (Franklin University, Switzerland), Gerben Westerhof, Floortje Scheepers (University Utrecht)

 

Finished PhD-projects

Jet Ankersmid (2024) The use of outcome information in shared decision-making about surveillance after breast cancer. With: Nelly van Uden (Santeon), Luc Strobbe and Sabine Siesling

Judith Austin (2023). Compassion in turbulent times. The co-design and mixed methods evaluation of a mobile self-compassion intervention for people with cancer. With Jelle van Dijk, Maya Schroevers, Robert Sanderman and Ernst Bohlmeijer.

Renate Willems (2021). The compassionate listener: resources and barriers for mental health in crisis line volunteers.  With Harald Miedema and Ernst Bohlmeijer.

Noortje Kloos (2000); Positive psychology in the nursing home: wellbeing of nursing home staff and residents. With Gerben Westerhof and Ernst Bohlmeijer.

Ingrid Nota (2017): Shared Decision Making in Rheumatology: what matters to patients. With Erik Taal, Mart van de Laar.

Marijke Schotanus (2016): How to flourish in everyday life? Enhancing Flourishing in Mental Health in the general population as a new strategy for the prevention of anxiety and depressive disorders. With Marcel Pieterse, Jan Walburg and Ernst Bohlmeijer.

Nadine Kohle (2016); Hold on, for each other, supporting partners of cancer patients via eHealth and positive psychology . With Robert Sanderman and Ernst Bohlmeijer.

Roos van de Vaart (2013). Rheumatology 2.0: empowering patients by eHealth. With Erik Taal, Mart van de Laar.

Nelly van Uden (2008). Online Peer Support for Patients with Somatic Diseases.  With Erik Taal, Mart van de Laar and Erwin Seydel.

Job van t Veer (2006). Determinants that shape public attitudes towards the mentally ill: A Dutch public study With Herro Kraan en Erwin Seydel.

Address

University of Twente

Capitool 15 (building no. 78), room 236
Capitool 15
7521 PL Enschede
Netherlands

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