Publications by authors named "Heerkens Y"

An ever-increasing amount of data on a person's daily functioning is being collected, which holds information to revolutionize person-centered healthcare. However, the full potential of data on daily functioning cannot yet be exploited as it is mostly stored in an unstructured and inaccessible manner. The integration of these data, and thereby expedited knowledge discovery, is possible by the introduction of functionomics as a complementary 'omics' initiative, embracing the advances in data science.

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Purpose: Work ability of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is reduced, but underexamined as a clinical treatment target. The evidence on vocational interventions indicates that delivery by a single healthcare professional (HCP) may be beneficial. Physiotherapist (PT)-led interventions have potential because PTs are most commonly consulted by RA/axSpA patients in the Netherlands.

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Background: Although reduced work ability is a substantial problem among people with inflammatory arthritis (IA), work ability is an underexposed area in clinical practice. Evidence on vocational interventions in IA is limited, but favourable results of delivery by a physiotherapist (PT) warrant the need for further research. Therefore, we aim to evaluate the (cost-)effectiveness of a multimodal, PT-led, vocational intervention in (self-)employed people with IA compared to usual care.

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Background: The Observable Movement Quality scale for patients with low back pain (OMQ-LBP) is a newly developed measurement instrument for use in primary care settings of physical and exercise therapists to assess movement quality (MQ) of patients with low back pain (LBP).

Objective: This study aims to determine validity, reliability and feasibility of the OMQ-LBP. The OMQ-LBP consists of a standardized movement circuit (performed twice) consisting of five daily activities problematic for LBP patients, which are scored with an 11-item observation list.

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When students with dyslexia enter higher education, studying often creates challenges at different levels. Universities differ in the way they facilitate students with dyslexia in their educational careers. This study focusses on studying with dyslexia from a value-driven perspective.

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Background: This review is focused on workers with developmental dyslexia (DD). In this review DD is considered an expression of neurodiversity, a consequence of a natural variant of the brain. Evidence was synthesized to explore which factors workers with DD consider relevant for their participation in work and whether these factors reflect shifts in the concepts of health and sustainable employability.

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This study aimed to test the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) combined with an organizational health intervention. A cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in five Dutch secondary vocational schools. Teachers were assigned to Intervention Group 1 (IG1; MBSR) or 2 (IG2; MBSR and an organizational health intervention), or to the Waiting List Group.

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Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) can create a temporary or permanent disability that reduce a person's ability to work. Physiotherapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs) and exercise therapists (ETs) are often involved in the early management of MSDs. There is a need for additional insights into therapists' experiences, barriers and needs to work-focused care.

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This pilot study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) training and to examine positive and negative symptom-focused mental health variables. The mental health variables were used to test the predictive validity of the training among healthcare professionals. Thirty healthcare professionals participated in this non-randomized pre-post intervention pilot study.

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Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a major problem across the globe and is the leading cause worldwide of years lost to disability. Self-management is considered an important component the treatment of people with non-specific LBP. However, it seems that the self-management support for people with non-specific LBP provided by physiotherapists can be improved.

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Since its publication in 2001 the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has attracted debate about the content and the model presented. After almost 20 years use, regular updating since 2008 and with the prospect of a new edition in 2020 there is increasing interest in the ICF as a tool to meet contemporary information requirements. Information on functioning is important across not only health systems, but all areas where change in functioning is important: education, employment, and social welfare for example.

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Purpose: A shift from providing long-term disability benefits to promoting work reintegration of people with remaining work capacity in many countries requires new instruments for work capacity assessments. Recently, a practice-based instrument addressing biopsychosocial aspects of functioning, the Social Medical Work Capacity instrument (SMWC), was developed. Our aim was to examine the content validity of the SMWC using ICF core sets.

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Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the primary cause of disability worldwide and a major societal burden. Recent qualitative research found that although a patient's work is considered important, physical therapists take work participation insufficiently into account as a determining factor in the treatment of patients with MSDs. Therefore, the aim of this study is to improve the effectiveness of physical therapy (in primary healthcare) with respect to the work participation of employees with MSDs by increasing the knowledge and skills of generalist physical therapists and by improving the collaboration between generalist physical therapists and physical therapists specialised in occupational health.

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Background: Dutch teachers in secondary vocational schools suffer from stress and burnout complaints that can cause considerable problems at work. This paper presents a study design that can be used to evaluate the short-term and long-term effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR), a person-focused intervention, both within and outside of the context of an additional organisational health intervention.

Methods: The proposed study comprises a cluster randomised controlled trial that will be conducted in at least three secondary vocational schools, to which teachers will be recruited from three types of courses: Care, Technology, and Economy.

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Background: Observing and analyzing movement quality (MQ) in patients with non-specific low back pain (NS-LBP) is important in the clinical reasoning of primary care physiotherapists and exercise therapists. However, there is no standardized form of assessment.

Research Question: which MQ domains are measured with which instruments, and which activities are relevant, appropriate and methodologically sound for assessing MQ in patients with NS-LBP?

Methods: The study had three phases.

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Persistent musculoskeletal pain is a worldwide health problem resulting in negative effects on individuals' wellbeing and substantial costs to society. Recently, there has been discussion about effective treatment approaches to persistent musculoskeletal disorders, including low back pain. In this Viewpoint, the authors argue that self-management strategies are essential to the management of persistent musculoskeletal disorders and outline the physical therapist's role in supporting effective self-management.

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This study evaluated the impact of a quality improvement programme based on self- and peer assessment to justify nationwide implementation. Four professional networks of physiotherapists in The Netherlands ( = 379) participated in the programme, which consisted of two cycles of online self-assessment and peer assessment using video recordings of client communication and clinical records. Assessment was based on performance indicators that could be scored on a 5-point Likert scale, and online assessment was followed by face-to-face feedback discussions.

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The Master program of Advanced Nursing Practice (MANP) educates nurses to become a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners are health care professionals focusing on the intersection of cure and care. However, a clear model covering that area is lacking.

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Objectives Healthcare workers frequently deal with work stress. This is a risk factor for adverse mental and physical health effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a digital platform-based implementation strategy - compared to a control group - on stress, work stress determinants (ie.

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Objectives: The purpose of this exploratory study was to obtain greater insight into the effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) on the mental health of employees.

Methods: Using PsycINFO, PubMed, and CINAHL, we performed a systematic review in October 2015 of studies investigating the effects of MBSR and MBCT on various aspects of employees' mental health. Studies with a pre-post design (i.

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Background: In The Netherlands, one out of six Dutch employees has informal care tasks; in the hospital and healthcare sector, this ratio is one out of four workers. Informal carers experience problems with the combination of work and informal care. In particular, they have problems with the burden of responsibility, a lack of independence and their health.

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Background: Musculoskeletal disorders are the main complaints for visiting a physical therapist (PT) in primary health care; they have a negative effect on an individual's quality of life and result in a major cost to society. Qualitative research has shown that physical therapists (PTs) treating patients with these disorders experience barriers in the integration of occupational factors within their practice, and also revealed a lack of cooperation between PTs and (other) occupational healthcare providers. The aim of this study is to quantitatively investigate how generalist PTs in the Netherlands, who treat patients with musculoskeletal disorders, currently integrate occupational factors within their practice, and to identify their opinions and needs with regard to enhancing the integration of the patient's work within physical therapy practice.

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Background: Adequate implementation of work-related stress management interventions can reduce or prevent work-related stress and sick leave in organizations. We developed a multifaceted integral stress-prevention strategy for organizations from several sectors that includes a digital platform and collaborative learning network. The digital platform contains a stepwise protocol to implement work-related stress-management interventions.

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