Risk factors for gastroenteritis associated with canal swimming in two cities in the Netherlands during the summer of 2015: A prospective study.

Urban canal swimming events are popular in the Netherlands. In 2015, two city canal swimming events took place, in Utrecht (Utrecht Singel Swim, USS) and in Amsterdam (Amsterdam City Swim, ACS). This prospective study characterizes the health risks associated with swimming in urban waters.

Effects of a brief cardiovascular prevention program by a health advisor in primary care; the 'Hartslag Limburg' project, a cluster randomized trial.

Objective: To determine in primary care patients at high risk for a cardiovascular event, the effects on biomedical risk factors for and incidence of cardiovascular events, of a brief cardiovascular prevention program executed by a health advisor.

Design: cluster randomized controlled trial with 1275 patients (24 general practices) in and around Maastricht, the Netherlands (1999-2004).

Intervention: health advisors were to complete computerized cardiovascular risk profiles, provide multi-factorial tailored health education and advice, and communicate with GP's to optimize treatment.

Lifestyle factors of a five-year community-intervention program: the Hartslag Limburg intervention.

Background: Community-based health promotion is a widely advocated strategy in public health to favorably alter lifestyle. The aim of this study was to investigate the net effect of a cardiovascular disease-prevention program (Hartslag Limburg) on lifestyle factors after 5 years of intervention (1998-2003).

Methods: In a cohort study, 5-year mean changes in lifestyle factors (energy intake; fat intake; time spent on leisure-time physical activity; walking, bicycling, and sports; and smoking behavior) between subjects from the intervention area (n=2356) and the control area (n=758) were compared for men and women and for those with a low (less than intermediate secondary education) and a moderate (intermediate vocational or higher secondary education) or high (higher vocational education or university) educational level.

Cardiovascular prevention in the Hartslag Limburg project: effects of a high-risk approach on behavioral risk factors in a general practice population.

Background: This study describes a general-practice-based high-risk cardiovascular prevention approach in Maastricht, The Netherlands (1999-2003). The intervention consisted of a complete registration of risk factors, optimization of medical treatment and health counseling on high fat consumption, smoking and physical inactivity.

Methods: Behavioral effects were assessed in a trial, randomization by practice and usual care as control.

Effects of health counseling on behavioural risk factors in a high-risk cardiology outpatient population: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: An evaluation study of an individual lifestyle advice intervention to reduce cardiovascular risk behaviours (high fat consumption, smoking, physical inactivity).

Methods: A randomized, controlled trial at the cardiology outpatient clinic of the University Hospital Maastricht. Participants were at high risk of incurring a cardiovascular event.

Costs of the 'Hartslag Limburg' community heart health intervention.

Background: Little is known about the costs of community programmes to prevent cardiovascular diseases. The present study calculated the economic costs of all interventions within a Dutch community programme called Hartslag Limburg, in such a way as to facilitate generalisation to other countries. It also calculated the difference between the economic costs and the costs incurred by the coordinating institution.

Effect of 5-year community intervention Hartslag Limburg on cardiovascular risk factors.

Background: A widely advocated strategy in public health is community-based health promotion. The aim of this study was to investigate the net effect of a cardiovascular disease prevention program (Hartslag Limburg) on cardiovascular risk factors after 5 years of intervention.

Design: Cohort study comparing 5-year mean change in risk factors between the intervention and reference area.

Implementation of an innovative health service a "real-world" diffusion study.

Background: Although reporting on the healthcare-setting level of continuance or discontinuance of an intervention once a trial is completed has been recommended, such "real-world" diffusion studies are rare. The present example was made possible by funding to explore opportunities for post-trial implementation of an innovative health counseling intervention for cardiovascular prevention in The Netherlands.

Methods: Between 2001 and 2004, in a longitudinal case study, we compared two healthcare settings: a cardiology outpatient clinic and general practices.

The Dutch Heart Health Community Intervention 'Hartslag Limburg': effects on smoking behaviour.

Background And Methods: A pretest-posttest control group design with two posttests was used to evaluate the effects of a regional Dutch Heart Health Community Intervention on smoking behaviour and its determinants. At baseline, a cohort research population of 1,200 smokers was recruited in the intervention region and in a control region. Data was gathered by means of short structured telephone interviews.

The Dutch Heart Health Community Intervention 'Hartslag Limburg': design and results of a process study.

In 1998, a regional cardiovascular diseases prevention program was started in The Netherlands. This paper presents the design and results of a process study on the community intervention. The main purpose of the study was to gain insight into the reasons why expected effects were or were not achieved.

The Dutch Heart Health community intervention 'Hartslag Limburg': results of an effect study at individual level.

'Hartslag Limburg' (Dutch for Heartbeat Limburg), a regional cardiovascular diseases (CVD) prevention program, integrates a community strategy and a high-risk strategy to reduce CVD risk behaviors. The present paper focuses on the effects of the community intervention on fat intake and physical activity. The project was based on community organization principles and health education theories and methods.