General aim
To iteratively communicate, disseminate and implement, together with the stakeholders, the created knowledge on the maintenance of oral and metabolic health during the first 1000 days of life, through a framework of inclusive digital and non-digital means.
Objectives
Active period
Year 1-8
Inholland, AUAS, UvA-FMG, VU, AUMC, ACTA, UTwente.
GGD, Sarphati Amsterdam, JGZ, SGF, Ivoren Kruis, Municipality of Amsterdam, NIBI, Bètapartners, Voedingscentrum, NJi, NCJ, PHAROS, Food4Smiles, Municipality of Amsterdam, PANEL, Onkolyze, Supabase, NVvK, JTV Amsterdam.
In 2024–2025, WP6 focused on gathering the necessary insights to support the development of inclusive digital and non-digital communication tools that promote healthy behaviors in early childhood. The primary target groups remain parents (especially those in vulnerable conditions) and oral healthcare professionals.
The PhD research in WP6 concentrated on a scoping review and observational study exploring how nurses and physicians at youth health clinics address oral health and nutrition during consultations. Alongside, interviews were conducted with both professionals and parents to reflect on the communication observed and gain insight into their needs and perceptions.
Several Bachelor and Master students from Inholland and University of Twente contributed to studies on:
– Prevention practices among dental professionals
– Parents’ perspectives on healthy food choices
– The role of the environment in shaping dietary behavior (e.g., in Amsterdam-Noord)
These projects informed the development of behavioral personas and a first version of a design-based toolkit for stakeholder engagement and dissemination. An inventory and evaluation of digital tools for parents of children under 3 was also conducted, with emphasis on persuasive design features and contextual fit.
In 2025, WP6 is also active within the project *Voed Ze Goed*, developed in collaboration with WP2. The project supports primary schools in making informed choices about healthy food offerings based on contextual needs. WP6 contributes by evaluating digital nutrition education tools and behavioral design strategies for implementation. *Voed Ze Goed* is a collaboration between Inholland domains AFL, O&I and GSW, the Dutch Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), and GGD Haaglanden, and runs from January 2025 to June 2026.
– The MetaHealth minor officially launched in 2024, co-developed by the Lectoraat Medische Technologie and the Oral Health program at Inholland, as a joint initiative of WP1 and WP6. As of January 2025, seven Dental Care students are enrolled: three are active in WP6, four in WP1. The minor was introduced at the National Meeting of Oral Health Education Programs in November 2024.
– Presentations were delivered at the Supporting Health by Technology 2024 conference, including:
• A scoping review of eHealth interventions
• A bachelor project poster on dental professionals and prevention
• A presentation on stakeholder analysis and contextual inquiry for knowledge dissemination
– An abstract has been accepted for 2025 on behavioral design in digital health promotion.
Inter-WP collaboration has intensified, particularly with WP1, WP2 and WP3. WP6 builds on insights from WP1 regarding family engagement, aligns with WP2 on projects such as *Voed Ze Goed*, and contributes to WP3 through the use of personas and behavioral design in digital agent-based modelings.
