Care and Public Health Research Institute

A healthy school lunch and more exercise in primary school helps tackling obesity

RIVM, Maastricht University / CAPHRI, Wageningen University & Research and VU University Amsterdam studied the support, feasibility, affordability and impact of healthy school lunches and more physical exercise at all Dutch primary schools. The results are promising.

Hilde Verbeek appointed member of Council for Medical Sciences

Since 1 November Hilde Verbeek joins the Council for Medical Sciences of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW). 

Can your neighbourhood make you sick?

Low individual socioeconomic status (SES) is known to be associated with a higher risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Hans Bosma and colleagues found out that living in a low property value neighbourhood in Maastricht is associated with higher rates of T2DM, independently of individual SES.

Groot onderzoek naar antistoffen coronavirus

De GGD Zuid Limburg, GGD Limburg-Noord, Provincie Limburg en Maastricht UMC+ starten vanaf vrijdag 23 oktober een onderzoek naar antistoffen en de verspreiding van het coronavirus in Limburg. De resultaten van het onderzoek geven straks belangrijke informatie voor inwoners, beleidsmakers én wetenschappers over het virus en de verspreiding in Limburg.

Nursing homes will go all out to prevent visiting bans during the second coronavirus wave

Dutch nursing homes say they want to avoid closing their doors to visitors during the second coronavirus wave if there is an infection among residents. At the same time, they say they can’t guarantee there will be no more visiting bans.

Cum laude for Floor van den Brand

On 21 October Floor van den Brand obtained her PhD with the Cum Laude predicate. She studied the effects of financial incentives for smoking cessation

Recognizing palliative care needs in patients with advanced heart failure

The tool I-HARP (Identifying Heart Failure Patients with Palliative Care Needs) has been launched recently This tool facilitates caregivers in the timely identification of palliative care needs in patients with advanced heart failure and their loved ones. 

Improving personalized treatment in oncology

The Dutch Cancer Society (KWF) awarded a grant (€950.000) to the research project ‘Improving personalized treatment in oncology. Towards shared decisions based on integrated information regarding treatment options, health status and patient preferences’.

Futureproof Practice Family Medicine located in the South of Limburg

PlusPraktijken: a futureproof and sustainable practice in family medicine.

Marianne Nieuwenhuijze benoemd tot hoogleraar Midwifery/Fysiologische Verloskunde

Marianne Nieuwenhuijze is benoemd tot bijzonder hoogleraar Midwifery/Fysiologische Verloskunde bij Universiteit Maastricht. 

Timo Clemens new Vice-Chairman VHC

Dr. Timo Clemens is appointed vice-chairman of CAPHRI’s research line Creating Value-Based Health Care (VHC).

Also fewer HPV infections in unvaccinated women

Petra Woestenberg obtained her PhD (Cum Laude) with her dissertation called: "Measuring the effects of HPV16/18 vaccination on HPV positivity and anogenital warts". Petra investigated the effects of the HPV vaccination programme in the Netherlands. Her research concluded that HPV vaccination is very effective in protecting against HPV infection.

“Why not move Carnival to summer?”

Christian Hoebe, professor of Social Medicine and head of Infectious Disease Control at the GGD Zuid-Limburg, discusses his passion for social medicine, his childhood in Alkmaar and, of course, the fight against COVID-19.

Research shows urgent need to teach healthy habits in primary school

Children’s health improves if they have a healthy lunch at school, get varied exercise and are taught in class about healthy behaviour. These are the findings of the ‘Healthy Primary School of the Future’ project, the final results of which will be announced during a symposium in Venlo on Tuesday, September 22.

Jan Hamers nominated for 2020 Huibregtsen Prize

Prof. Jan Hamers, professor of Care for the Elderly is one of the six nominees for the 2020 Huibregtsen Prize, which is awarded to recent research that is both scientifically innovative and socially relevant. 

ERC Starting Grant for Olga Zvonareva and Francesca Rapino

Show the importance of public health, especially now!

With an inspiring campaign in Maastricht, Public Health students of Maastricht University have contributed to the launch of the global initiative 'This is Public Health' (TIPH). Their goal? To showcase what public health is and why it is so vitally important for promoting and protecting the health and wellbeing of our communities.

ERC Starting Grant for Olga Zvonareva

Olga Zvonareva has received an ERC Starting Grant, which is an European research grant for young academics at the career stage at which they are starting their own independent research team or programme. 

Patients with severe COPD benefit from a daily dose of morphine

The daily use of low-dose morphine tablets by patients with a severe form of the lung disease COPD has a positive effect on quality of life, and has no negative side effects. These are the findings of a recent study by Cindy van den Berg-Verberkt and Dr Daisy Janssen of the Ciro knowledge centre and Maastricht University (UM).

Prestigious grant for study on relocation of nursing home residents

Hilde Verbeek, Jan Hamers (RL Ageing and Long-Term Care) and their team were awarded a grant of € 1.730.000 by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). They will study how relocations in nursing home care be improved for residents and their loved ones, while contributing to their quality of life and quality of care.

ZonMw grant for study on the effect of the coronacrisis on hospitals in Limburg

Dirk Ruwaard, Daan Westra (RL Creating Value-Based Health Care) and their team received a ZonMw grant of €493.413 for their research project 'Improve, adapt, overwork? Understanding and learning from hospitals' adaptations to COVID-19 and their effects on professional functioning and recovery'.

How to make ethically responsible corona policy?

Associate Professor in public health ethics Peter Schröder-Bäck studied the effects of the European debt crisis on health. He is now advising  policymakers across Europe on the ethics of responding to the corona crisis.

Aggie Paulus appointed Professor of ‘Economics of Education and Healthcare’

Kennisagenda Zorg op de Juiste Plek aan VWS aangeboden

Dirk Ruwaard, voorzitter van het Kennisplatform de Juiste Zorg op de Juiste Plek (JZOJP), heeft 24 juni 2020 de Kennisagenda 'Zorg op de juiste plek' aan het Ministerie van VWS aangeboden. 

“Ethnic or racial categories in health research don’t capture the complexity behind health inequalities”

After George Floyd was killed by an American police officer, many hundreds of thousands of people all over the world took to the streets to protest against racism. These protests also prompt self-reflection at UM: what is the current situation in terms of the use of race and racism in Dutch health care and health research? We asked Alana Helberg-Proctor.

‘This is a golden age for science’

Maurice Zeegers is not only professor of Complex Genetics and Epidemiology, but also scientific director of the Maastricht research school CAPHRI (Care and Public Health Research Institute). And during these corona times, he also functions as research partner of the WHO Evidence Collaborative. A discussion about the delicate balance between scientific rigour and social impact.

Online tool helps people in making decisions on long-term care

People who need long-term care sometimes have to make fundamental decisions, e.g. on a preferred therapy or living situation. Karin van Leersum (RL Promoting Health and Personalised Care) and colleagues developed the online tool www.watikbelangrijkvind.nl together with clients, informal caregivers and independent care coordinators. 

You are responsible for others’ health

The importance of UM’s Smart Start-up protocol.

Isolation in time of pandemic is a luxury

Remaining isolated in time of pandemic is a luxury. This does not only apply to those with vital professions who continue to serve society. It also applies to low-resource settings, where people have no other choice but to keep on as usual to be able to provide food for the family, irrespective of the health risks, and where access to care is challenging.

Read the column by Milena Pavlova, prof. of Health Economics and Equity (RL Creating Value-Based Healthcare). 

Staying DEDICATED in times of COVID-19

Normally, the researchers involved in the DEDICATED project, are working on an approach to empower nursing staff in providing palliative dementia care. Now the involved nurses and other care professionals are working around the clock to provide the best possible care, the DEDICATED team is pausing on-site research activities. Instead, they are contributing from behind the scenes. How? 

Times that call for flexibility

One of the things Raissa Derckx looked forward to in her PhD was to focus her attention on one single subject. Fast forward to last month, when her supervisor told her she should probably consider herself a full-time coronavirus researcher for the time being, as her ‘own’ topic (chlamydia management in primary care) was coming to a relative stand-still due to the virus. Now she is involved in two important COVID-19 related research projects. 

Milena Pavlova appointed professor Health Economics and Equity

Jos Schols benoemd tot visiting professor aan de Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Responsibility of experts

"In contrast to viruses, experts have a great responsibility to recognise borders". A column by prof. Rik Crutzen 

“Your COVID-19 Risk” tool

Helping people improve their behaviour to reduce their risk of contracting the coronavirus. That is the goal of the online tool ‘Your COVID-19 Risk’, which was launched last week. The tool was developed by an international group of 150 volunteers from 35 countries, including several CAPHRI behavioural scientists.

Assessment of Corona Burden Tool

The Assessment of Corona Burden Tool (Corona Ziektelastmeter), developed by Lung Foundation Netherlands and CAPHRI, helps people who were infected with the novel coronavirus to get more control over the complaints they may experience.

Making work from home work for you

Fatigue, headaches, irritability, or sleep problems? These might be symptoms of stress caused by the unfamiliar demands of working from home. Angelique de Rijk studies work stress in nurses – and worries about the current situation and the transition back to normal.

Managing the COVID-19 pandemic in China: managing trust and accountability

In late 2019, China became the first country to be hit by the novel coronavirus pandemic, and many cities were locked down in 2020 to prevent transmission. The country’s response to the coronavirus has raised questions about control measures and establishing public accountability and trust in a non-democratic context. Ronghui Yang (RL Health Inequities and Societal Particiation) traces discussions among citizens about the response to the coronavirus pandemic by following Chinese social media platforms.

Walking Dead re-visited: a tale on corona, uncontrollability and a more beautiful world

A column by Hans Bosma, professor of Social Epidemiology.

Biomass use and COVID-19: A novel concern

Evidence supports the link between air pollution and COVID-19 and thus it is likely that exposure to indoor smoke due to cooking increases the risk of COVID-19. An outbreak of COVID-19 in slum communities where the concept of physical distancing is next to impossible could easily overwhelm the public health system. 

All for one & one for all: how to stimulate more inclusive research?

Participation in scientific research can be difficult or impossible for some groups in our society. As long as certain groups are excluded from research, we will not have a complete understanding of that which we are studying and the societal relevance of research is reduced. This project aims to increase awareness about this topic and gives us the possibility to investigate and disseminate best practices of inclusive research methods.

Joined forces in COVID-19 rehabilitation care

For Covid-19 patients who respond successfully to treatment and are able to be discharged from hospital, the road to recovery can still be a lengthy one. In order to provide the right care in the right place to COVID-19 patients, the involved health care providers (primary, secondary and tertiary care) in the Limburg region have joined forces.

UM launches new specialty training programme in geriatric medicine

The role of the European Union during (and after) the Corona crisis

In this COVID-19 period, it seems surprising that the European Union (EU) feels remote and not at the forefront of the response. Why is that? Our Health Law Group explains.

COVID-19 shows need for developing global health education capacity in Iran

The public health authorities in Iran have severe difficulties in responding to the Covid-19 outbreak, which coincides with the politically induced economic sanctions against the country. All aspects of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are directly and indirectly hampered, and the country is falling short in combating the crisis. In the context of this worrying public and socio-economic health situation, the Erasmus+ project “IraN European Partnership for Capacity-building and Teaching in Global Health (INPACT)” , led by Anja Krumeich and Remco van de Pas (RL Health Inequities and Societal Participation) has recently started. 

UM coordinates nationwide GP reporting system for untested COVID-19 deaths

The COVID-19 epidemic in Italy: response and policies

Italy was the country where the first European COVID-19 outbreak was detected. Within two weeks, the disease spread rapidly throughout other European countries. Our colleague prof Carlo Signorelli of the University Vita-Salute San Raffaele in Milan gives an insight in the Italian management - and the problems faced- of the corona epidemic.