Research group Appropriate Intensive Care

Aims

We aim to:

• Evaluate the effectiveness of intensive care treatment on patient outcomes (mortality, morbidity and quality of life), and the cost-effectiveness of intensive care;
• Develop prediction models that support patients, relatives and healthcare professionals in treatment decisions;
• Gain insight into the (ethical) challenges of implementing macroeconomic data in national policy and clinical decision-making;
• Provide care that is tailored to the personal needs and experienced health problems;
• Support policy makers in making decisions about the sustainability of intensive care based on valid data.

Achievements

• MONITOR-IC

  We set up the MONITOR-IC (www.monitor-ic.nl): a worldwide unique database including outcome, clinical and costs data from more than 20,000 former ICU patients across multiple Dutch ICUs. It forms the foundation for the research conducted by the research group. The MONITOR-IC data is input for several guidelines supporting clinicans in treatment decisions, and is input for policy making on sustainable health care. More than € 5 million in grant funding was secured for research projects.Particular achievement is the development and graduation of several PhD, MSc and BSc students within the research group.

Publications

See the publication list of the research group leader on Web of Science.

• A selection of our publications

  • Heesakkers H, van der Hoeven JG, Corsten S, Janssen I, Ewalds E, Simons KS, Westerhof B, Rettig TCD, Jacobs C, van Santen S, Slooter AJC, van der Woude MCE, van den Boogaard M, Zegers M. Clinical Outcomes Among Patients With 1-Year Survival Following Intensive Care Unit Treatment for COVID-19. JAMA. 2022 Feb 8;327(6):559-565. doi: 10.1001/jama.2022.0040. PMID: 35072716; PMCID: PMC8787680.
  • Porter LL, Hazeleger L, Bos K, Simons KS, van der Hoeven JG, Yeghaian M, van der Woude MCE, van Santen S, Rettig TCD, de Vries M, van den Boogaard M, Zegers M. Identifying distinct clusters of ICU survivors by integrating demographic, pre-admission quality of life, and clinical data: a large prospective cohort study. Intensive Care Med. 2025 Sep;51(9):1603-1614. doi: 10.1007/s00134-025-08052-3. Epub 2025 Aug 7. PMID: 40773138; PMCID: PMC12405309.
  • Porter LL, Simons KS, van der Hoeven JG, van den Boogaard M, Zegers M. Discussing expected long-term quality of life in the ICU: effect on experiences and outcomes of patients, family, and clinicians-a randomized clinical trial. Intensive Care Med. 2025 Mar;51(3):478-489. doi: 10.1007/s00134-025-07812-5. Epub 2025 Feb 24. PMID: 39992444; PMCID: PMC12018518.
  • van Sleeuwen D, van de Laar FA, Simons KS, van Bommel D, Burgers-Bonthuis D, Koeter J, Bisschops LLA, Janssen I, Rettig TCD, van der Hoeven JG, van den Boogaard M, Zegers M. Associations Between Social Economic Determinants and Long-Term Outcomes of Critically Ill Patients. Crit Care Med. 2025 Apr 1;53(4):e783-e793. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000006587. Epub 2025 Feb 13. PMID: 39945587; PMCID: PMC11952688.
  • Kok N, Zegers M, Teerenstra S, Fuchs M, van der Hoeven JG, van Gurp JLP, Hoedemaekers CWE. Effect of Structural Moral Case Deliberation on Burnout Symptoms, Moral Distress, and Team Climate in ICU Professionals: A Parallel Cluster Randomized Trial. Crit Care Med. 2023 Oct 1;51(10):1294-1305. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000005940. Epub 2023 Jun 5. PMID: 37272981.
  • Kok N, Van Gurp J, van der Hoeven JG, Fuchs M, Hoedemaekers C, Zegers M. Complex interplay between moral distress and other risk factors of burnout in ICU professionals: findings from a cross-sectional survey study. BMJ Qual Saf. 2023 Apr;32(4):225-234. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2020-012239. Epub 2021 Jun 29. PMID: 34187883; PMCID: PMC10086276.
  • Hesselink G, Verhage R, Westerhof B, Verweij E, Fuchs M, Janssen I, van der Meer C, van der Horst ICC, de Jong P, van der Hoeven JG, Zegers M. Reducing administrative burden by implementing a core set of quality indicators in the ICU: a multicentre longitudinal intervention study. BMJ Qual Saf. 2025 Feb 19;34(3):157-165. doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2024-017481. PMID: 39214680
  • van Sleeuwen D, Zegers M, Ramjith J, Cruijsberg JK, Simons KS, van Bommel D, Burgers-Bonthuis D, Koeter J, Bisschops LLA, Janssen I, Rettig TCD, van der Hoeven JG, van de Laar FA, van den Boogaard M. Prediction of Long-Term Physical, Mental, and Cognitive Problems Following Critical Illness: Development and External Validation of the PROSPECT Prediction Model. Crit Care Med. 2024 Feb 1;52(2):200-209. doi: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000006073. Epub 2023 Dec 15. PMID: 38099732; PMCID: PMC10793772.
  • Wubben N, van den Boogaard M, van der Hoeven JG, Zegers M. Shared decision-making in the ICU from the perspective of physicians, nurses and patients: a qualitative interview study. BMJ Open. 2021 Aug 11;11(8):e050134. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050134. PMID: 34380728; PMCID: PMC8359489.
  • Geense WW, Zegers M, Peters MAA, Ewalds E, Simons KS, Vermeulen H, van der Hoeven JG, van den Boogaard M. New Physical, Mental, and Cognitive Problems 1 Year after ICU Admission: A Prospective Multicenter Study. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2021 Jun 15;203(12):1512-1521. doi: 10.1164/rccm.202009-3381OC. PMID: 33526001.