IMR Blue Zone

IMR Blue Zone citizen-science project monitors lifestyle behaviour using wearables to improve the healthy lifestyle behaviour/knowledge of the population and healthcare professionals in the Meuse-Rhine region.

The IMR Blue Zone citizen-science project aims to improve healthy lifestyle behaviour and knowledge among citizens and healthcare providers in the Meuse-Rhine region (NL-BE-DE). Life expectancy in the Meuse-Rhine region varies significantly between and within areas. To better understand and reduce these differences, the universities of Hasselt (PI), Liège, Aachen, and Maastricht have launched a large-scale interregional project. From Maastricht University Prof Annemarie Koster (CAPHRI) and Prof Hans Savelberg (NUTRIM) are involved in the project.

In the first part of the project, the health and lifestyle of 1,000 citizens will be monitored using wearables and online questionnaires. This includes two sub-objectives: one focusing on physical health and the other on mental health. After an initial assessment, participants will receive a wearable and motivation to increase their physical activity over a three-month period, followed by a second assessment. These results will inform the development of practical guidelines to improve lifestyle and health in the region.

In the second part, healthcare-related educational programs and the approaches and practices of healthcare professionals will be analysed for their preventive medicine content. This will be achieved through a combination of qualitative analyses and questionnaires. Based on the findings, recommendations for potential improvements will be formulated, and a web-based toolbox for preventive medicine education will be developed. Furthermore, insights from interviews with healthcare professionals will guide the design of lifelong digital learning modules aimed at supporting preventive practices in clinical settings.