IBD Zorgpad

Nearly six million people in the Netherlands live with one or more chronic conditions. For those with IBD (such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis), this often means coping with symptoms like abdominal pain, fatigue, and reduced ability to work. Standard treatment focuses primarily on medication, while lifestyle factors – including nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress management – have been shown to influence the course of the disease. Still, patients often receive fragmented or contradictory advice, as healthcare professionals from different disciplines operate in silos. This project aims to develop an integrated, lifestyle-focused care pathway that not only strengthens collaboration across disciplines but also measurably improves patients’ quality of life, disease activity, and lifestyle behaviour. Results will be translated into a transferable method that can be applied in other healthcare settings.

The project

In collaboration with hospitals, healthcare professionals, and patients, a pilot will be carried out in which multidisciplinary consultation (MDC) plays a central role. Dietitians, physicians, psychologists, sleep experts, and physiotherapists will work together on a coordinated lifestyle trajectory. Through process monitoring and evaluations with both professionals and patients, the project explores how the care pathway can be sustainably implemented and embedded in daily practice. The insights gained will be shared through existing networks, such as the Alliance Nutrition in Healthcare and the Societal Earning Capacity knowledge platform.

€50,000,- will be used as a PPP program grant.