Health and behavior in disadvantaged populations during and beyond COVID-19 HABID-project
GP practices were less easy to visit during COVID-19 and remote care was offered. The lockdowns also had short-term effects on dietary patterns and physical activity. This study examines the midterm effects on access to the GP and health behaviours of citizens in deprived areas and diabetes patients. It is a follow-up to the ZonMw project Effects of COVID-19 on GP visits by patients in deprived areas (GP-COVERAGE), which started on September 1st 2020.
Goal
The research gives insight into the five-year consequences of COVID-19 measures on access to GP care, exercise and dietary behaviour, and the use of digital care among citizens in deprived areas and among diabetes patients (Diabetes Mellitus 2, DM2). The project provides advice on measures that can limit the consequences of a future pandemic.
Approach
Research will be done in the population of Rotterdam area. The project analyses the medical data of GP patients. It investigates the effect of COVID-19 on GP visits in deprived areas and on the health indicators of DM2 patients. Furthermore, the project studies trends in dietary and exercise behaviours of citizens in deprived areas and of DM2 patients. This is done by analysing data from health surveys (2016-2024). Finally, citizens and DM2 patients will be interviewed about their health behaviour and experiences with digital GP information during COVID-19. The results provide insights for improving health behaviors and GP care.
Collaboration partners
Erasmus University Rotterdam and the Department of General Practice of Erasmus MC are conducting the research. It will be advised by a panel of active local residents and diabetes patients, so that it fits their needs. Furthermore, general practitioners and experts in the field of research and health inequalities will advise on the quality of the research project. The advisors were chosen because of their broad network, which they will use to promote the implementation of recommendations in practice.
(Expected) Results
Results are expected in 2026. The lessons learned from the midterm effects of COVID-19 measures will influence policy making for good GP care, healthy nutrition and exercise behaviours of citizens in deprived areas and DM2 patients in future pandemics. We expect to gain insight into why the blood values (HbA1c) of DM2 patients improved immediately after the first lockdown and whether people change their health behaviours during a pandemic. Finally, we expect to gain insight into the extent to which GPs succeed in maintaining and improving patient contact after the pandemic, including with the help of digital health information.