Putting knowledge from research into practice for a healthy living environment

A lot of knowledge is available in the Netherlands, and also internationally, about a healthy living environment. Unfortunately, this knowledge often tends to go unused. We want to do something about this. In recent decades, we have accumulated a lot of knowledge and experience about how to use and apply knowledge more effectively, and we are now using it to shape and promote activities for a healthy living environment. We are for example ensuring each step in the knowledge cycle receives sufficient attention, and that these steps are well coordinated. We deliberately define knowledge broadly, encompassing knowledge from practice, experiential knowledge and scientific knowledge.

How do you ensure that your lifestyle intervention is successful in practice? Implementation specialist and committee member Fenke van Nassua has given a series of masterclasses on this subject for all project teams in the projects awarded grants under the Knowledge Utilisation & Implementation programme. What are the pitfalls, and the factors that determine success? Read more about the do’s and don’ts of successful implementation (only available in Dutch).

The use of green outdoor spaces in childcare was the subject of a recently completed study. The staff of childcare centres were given tips on using outdoor spaces so as to promote the wellbeing and personal competencies of young children. The outcome? Read our article to learn about the positive effect of green outdoor spaces (only available in Dutch) on stress levels, engagement, physical activity and creative play. The results of the study have been developed into a workbook, checklist, scientific papers, certification scheme for Green Childcare, and teaching materials for teacher training courses.

What effect does the design of the living environment have on health, sustained healthy (or unhealthy) behaviour, and participation in society? Since we actually know little about this, seven regional consortiums are researching the matter. Read the call issued by Maria Jansen (only available in Dutch) of the Zuid-Limburg consortium RuimteGIDS for more cross-border interaction between the world of health and the world of spatial planning. One benefit of the programme is that these parties are now talking to each other at an early stage of proceedings. RuimteGIDS is a partnership between Maastricht University, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Maastricht and Kerkrade local authorities, ProjectBureauA2, Limburg provincial authority and GGDE Zuid-Limburg. We are funding this and six other regional consortiums under the ‘Make space for health’ programme.

The key ambition in our 2020-2024 policy plan is to achieve more impact. This means that we always take time to consider the intended end user of research results, asking ourselves what it is that they need, and what else we could do to ensure they actually use the results. One of the lessons we have learned is that research results often have to be ‘translated’, turned into things like guidelines, tools, apps or learning networks, before they are genuinely useful to users. Research results can be relevant to several groups of end users, including policymakers at local authorities, healthcare professionals at a nursing home, and college lecturers.

Better application of knowledge about a healthy living environment requires some customisation. ‘Healthy living environment’ is after all a broad concept that covers a whole range of issues, from climate change and exercise, to microplastics and diet. Many different parties are involved in all these issues, at various levels and at various stages of research. Our Microplastics and Health knowledge agenda shows how we bring all parties concerned together right from the start, from the identification of new issues. The earlier and more effectively this is done, the greater the chance of impact.

Other ZonMw programmes on a healthy living environment also focus specifically on the impact of results. Make space for health brings together the worlds of care, social welfare and health, and spatial planning. More connections between fields increases the likelihood of research results being used to greater effect. A more systemic view of research can also enhance the impact of research findings. The challenges identified in the field of diet and health are a good example.