Expertise

Robbert Gobbens is lector Gezondheid en Welzijn van kwetsbare ouderen bij Hogeschool Inholland en de Zonnehuisgroep Amstelland. Daarnaast is hij vanaf half februari 2019 als gastprofessor aangesteld bij de Faculteit Geneeskunde en Gezondheidswetenschappen (vakgroep ELIZA) van de Universiteit Antwerpen.

Als lector is hij ook verbonden aan Zonnehuisgroep Amstelland. Voor zijn lectorschap was hij als associate lector Multimorbiditeit werkzaam binnen het kenniscentrum De Gezonde Samenleving bij Inholland.

Ervaring

Van 1986 tot 1997 werkte Robbert als wijkverpleegkundige. Daarna maakte hij de overstap naar het onderwijs. Bij Avans Hogeschool gaf hij les aan bachelor studenten en ontwikkelde onderwijs; ook was hij voorzitter van de curriculum- en examencommissie. In 2009 startte hij aan de Hogeschool Rotterdam als coördinator van de opleiding Master of Advanced Nursing Practice en voerde als senior onderzoeker onderzoek uit binnen de ouderenzorg.

In 2010 promoveerde hij op het proefschrift ‘Frail elderly. Towards an integral approach’. Tijdens dit promotieonderzoek ontwikkelde hij een breed frailty concept dat lichamelijke, psychische en sociale problemen includeert. Het product van dit proefschrift is de Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), een instrument waarmee kwetsbaarheid bij ouderen kan worden bepaald. De TFI is inmiddels door meerdere landen vertaald en gevalideerd; bij de meeste van deze studies is hij betrokken.

Over Robbert

Robbert is vanaf 1999 actief binnen V&VN (beroepsvereniging Verpleegkundigen & Verzorgenden Nederland), momenteel als voorzitter van de afdeling geriatrie en gerontologie. Namens V&VN is hij voorzitter van de werkgroep ontwikkeling kwaliteitsstandaard zorg voor gezonde slaap en zorg bij slaapproblemen en de werkgroep zorginhoudelijke modules bij de zorgstandaard dementie.

Hij is lid van de editorial board van Open Nursing, BMC Geriatrics, Advances in Nursing & Midwifery Journal en Advances in Geriatric Medicine and Research. Van het Nederlands-Vlaams wetenschappelijk tijdschrift voor verpleegkundigen is hij de voorzitter van de redactie.

Hij heeft ruim 100 artikelen gepubliceerd, waarvan er 60 in PubMed zijn opgenomen.

Hij is momenteel bij zes PhD-projecten betrokken als co-promotor. Het betreft de projecten:

• Voorkomen is beter? Over vroegsignalering en preventie door sociale wijkteams.
• Application and effect of home-based pulmonary rehabilitation and ehealth in frail elderly with COPD
• Leer- en InnovatieNetwerken in de geriatrische revalidatiezorg
• Cliënt-centred goal setting in de geriatrische revalidatiezorg
• Evaluation of the effectiveness of a person-centred touch-screen based photoactivity for social participation in people with advanced dementia.
• Orale kwetsbaarheid en de predictie van ongewenste gezondheidsuitkomsten bij ouderen.

Gezondheid & Welzijn van Kwetsbare Ouderen

Factors influencing REducing Delay through edUcation on eXacerbations (REDUX) implementation

REducing Delay through edUcation on eXacerbations (REDUX) shows promise in reducing exacerbation recognition and action delays for chronic lung diseases in the Netherlands. However, factors influencing its successful implementation in China remain unclear. To identify the perceived...

A Digital Photo Activity Intervention for Nursing Home Residents With Dementia and Their Carers

Abstract Background: Within the framework of a randomized controlled trial investigating the impact of a digital, psychosocial photo activity intervention for residents living with dementia in nursing homes and their informal and formal carers, a process evaluation was conducted to...

Development and validation of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator-Indonesia version

The aim of this study was to develop and examine the psychometric properties of the Tilburg Frailty Indica tor-Indonesian version (TFI-I). 308 community-dwelling older adults aged 60 years participated. The TFI-I exhibited favorable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.775) and...

Recognition of cognitive dysfunction in hospitalised older patients

Background: It is important that healthcare professionals recognise cognitive dysfunction in hospitalised older patients in order to address associated care needs, such as enhanced involvement of relatives and extra cognitive and functional support. However, studies analysing medical...

Prognostic Factors of Hip Fracture in Elderly

The hip fracture causes significant disabilities in many elderly people. Many studies around the world have identified various risk factors for the hip fracture. The aim of this study was to systematically investigate the risk factors of hip fractures. This study is a systematic...

Social frailty in older adults

Background: Social frailty has been increasingly prevalent due to the aging populations. This concept is a rela tively new topic in the gerontology. Older adults experiencing social isolation because of social frailty remain in a state of loneliness or depression. Many misconceptions...

Developing a theory of change model for a learning and innovation network

Aim: The aim of this study is to further develop a preliminary framework into a model that can translate mechanisms into output and impact, based on the views of those working in practice and the relations between the mechanisms: a model that can inform practitioners and organizations...

Involving Nurses in Participatory Action Research

Involving nurses in research and quality improvement is desirable because nurses are often aware of weaknesses in care or organizational processes. In participatory action research (PAR), practitioners are encouraged to identify problems they encounter and, together with the...

The Prediction of Healthcare Utilization by Frailty and Disability among Dutch Community-Dwelling People Aged 75 Years or Older

ABSTRACT: Background Population aging is occurring worldwide. As a result, frailty and disability are in the full interest of practice, policy, and science. An increase in healthcare utilization is an adverse outcome of frailty and disability. Objective The aim of the present study...

Associations of Frailty, Defined Using Three Different Instruments, with All-Cause Mortality in a Tertiary Outpatient Clinic in Turkiye

Purpose: To our knowledge, there have been no comparative studies evaluating the associations of frailty defined using the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI), frailty phenotype by Fried et al, and FRAIL scale with all-cause mortality in Turkiye. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the...

Professionalisering van de verpleging en verzorging in de ouderenzorg

Rede, uitgesproken bij de openbare aanvaarding van het ambt van bijzonder hoogleraar Professionalisering van de verpleging en verzorging in de ouderenzorg aan Tilburg University op 29 september 2023 door Prof. dr. Robbert J.J. Gobbens

Professionalisation of Nursing and Care in Elderly Care

Inaugural lecture, delivered upon public acceptance of the endowed professorship in Professionalisation of Nursing and Care in Elderly Care by Prof. Dr. Robbert J.J. Gobbens at Tilburg University on 29 September 2023.

What If the Clinical and Older Adults’ Perspectives about Frailty Converge? A Call for a Mixed Conceptual Model of Frailty

Abstract: Existing frailty models have enhanced research and practice; however, none of the models accounts for the perspective of older adults upon defining and operationalizing frailty. We aim to propose a mixed conceptual model that builds on the integral model while accounting for...

Disability transitions in Dutch community-dwelling older people aged 75 years or older

Background: Recent world population predictions show that the world population aged >=65 years will increase from 10% in 2022 to 16% in 2050. Population aging is accompanied by an increase in people with disability. It is important to pay special attention to people with disability,...

Importance analysis of psychosociological variables in frailty syndrome in heart failure patients using machine learning approach

The prevention and diagnosis of frailty syndrome (FS) in cardiac patients requires innovative systems to support medical personnel, patient adherence, and self-care behavior. To do so, modern medicine uses a supervised machine learning approach (ML) to study the psychosocial domains...

Associations of individual chronic diseases and multimorbidity with multidimensional frailty

ABSTRACT Objective: To examine the associations between individual chronic diseases and multidimensional frailty comprising physical, psychological, and social frailty. Methods: Dutch individuals (N = 47,768) age ≥ 65 years completed a general health questionnaire sent by the Public...

External Validation of Models for Predicting Disability in Community-Dwelling Older People in the Netherlands

Background: Advanced statistical modeling techniques may help predict health outcomes. However, it is not the case that these modeling techniques always outperform traditional techniques such as regression techniques. In this study, external validation was carried out for five...

Predicting Disability Using a Nomogram of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI)

Abstract: Disability is associated with lower quality of life and premature death in older people. Therefore, prevention and intervention targeting older people living with a disability is important. Frailty can be considered a major predictor of disability. In this study, we aimed...

Supporting older patients in working on rehabilitation goals

Abstract Background: Nurses are consistently present throughout the rehabilitation of older patients but are apprehensive about performing goal-centred care in the multidisci plinary team. Objectives: The aim of this review was to explore working interventions on setting goals and...

The efects of psychosocial interventions using generic photos on social interaction, mood and quality of life of persons with dementia

Abstract Background Although family photos are often used in the psychosocial care for people with dementia, little is known about the use and efectiveness of generic photos. This systematic literature review explored psychosocial interventions using generic photos for people with...

Frailty Viewed From a Nursing Perspective

Abstract Introduction: More and more researchers are convinced that frailty should refer not only to physical limitations but also to psychological and social limitations that older people may have. Such a broad, or multidimensional, definition of frailty fits better with nursing, in...

Lectoraat en practoraat wijzen Omring de weg naar toekomstbestendige zorg

Gepubliceerd interview in ICT&health: Zorgaanbieder Omring heeft samen met Hogeschool InHolland een bijzonder lectoraat in het leven geroepen om inzichtelijk te maken welke kansrijke innovaties op het gebied van zorg en behandeling en technologie toepasbaar en uiteindelijk bewezen...

A Learning and Innovation Network (LIN) in Nursing

Abstract Review Article: Introduction: Registered nurses and students of the Bachelor of Nursing are improving the quality of healthcare by working together in a Learning and Innovation Network (LIN). A LIN is a powerful learning environment, where employees and students work...

Exploring crucial programme characteristics and group mechanisms of an empowerment programme for certified nursing assistants

Abstract Aims: To identify crucial programme characteristics and group mechanisms of, and lessons learned from hindrances in an empowerment programme for certified nursing assistants and contribute to the development of similar programmes in other care settings. Design: Exploratory...

A Comparison of Different Modeling Techniques in Predicting Mortality With the Tilburg Frailty Indicator

Background: Modern modeling techniques may potentially provide more accurate predictions of dichotomous outcomes than classical techniques. Objective: In this study, we aimed to examine the predictive performance of eight modeling techniques to predict mortality by...

Prediction of COVID-19 Infections for Municipalities in the Netherlands

Abstract Background: COVID-19 was first identified in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, China. The virus quickly spread and was declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. After infection, symptoms such as fever, a (dry) cough, nasal congestion, and fatigue can develop. In some cases,...

Oral frailty dissected and conceptualized

Objectives: The aim of this scoping review was threefold: 1. to identify existing definitions of oral frailty and similar terms in gerodontology literature; 2. to assess the oral frailty definitions and analyze whether these are well formulated on a conceptual level; and 3. in the...

Bayesian Techniques in Predicting Frailty Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in the Netherlands

Abstract BackgroundFrailty is a syndrome that is defined as an accumulation of deficits in physical, psychological, and social domains. On a global scale, there is an urgent need to create frailty-ready healthcare systems due to the healthcare burden that frailty confers on systems...

Exploring crucial programme characteristics and group mechanisms of an empowerment programme for certified nursing assistants

Abstract Aims: To identify crucial programme characteristics and group mechanisms of, and lessons learned from hindrances in an empowerment programme for certified nurs ing assistants and contribute to the development of similar programmes in other care settings. Design: Exploratory...

REducing delay through edUcation on eXacerbations for people with chronic lung disease

Abstract Aim: This study protocol aims to examine the effectiveness and preconditions of a self-management program—named REducing Delay through edUcation on eXacerbations (REDUX)—in China. Background: The high disease burden in people with chronic lung disease is mainly due to...

Physical, Psychological and Social Frailty Are Predictive of Heart Failure

Abstract: Background: Little is known about frailty among patients hospitalized with heart failure (HF). To date, the limited information on frailty in HF is based on a unidimensional view of frailty, in which only physical aspects are considered when determining frailty. The aims of...

Nurses’ Opinions on Frailty

Abstract: Nurses come into frequent contact with frail older people in all healthcare settings. However, few studies have specifically asked nurses about their views on frailty. The main aim of this study was to explore the opinions of nurses working with older people on the concept...

Illness Perceptions and Self-Management among People with Chronic Lung Disease and Healthcare Professionals

Abstract: Self-management interventions (SMIs) may fail if they misalign with the local context. To optimize the implementation of SMIs in Chinese people with chronic lung disease (CLD), the local context was identified in Chinese primary care (PC) and secondary care (SC). A...

Het bespreken van onbegrepen gedrag bij mensen met dementie en een migratieachtergrond ‘Op weg’ naar een methodiek voor verpleegkundigen

Verpleegkundigen vinden het lastig om goede dementiezorg te bieden aan mensen met een migratieachtergrond en hun mantelzorgers als er sprake is van onbegrepen gedrag. Bestaande methodieken voor het omgaan met onbegrepen gedrag sluiten niet aan op de situatie van deze doelgroep. In het...

Known in the nursing home

Abstract Background: To address the lack of social interaction and meaningful activities for persons with dementia (PWD) in nursing homes an artistic Photo-Activity was designed. The present study aims to develop a digital version of the Photo-Activity and to investigate its...

Het bespreken van onbegrepen gedrag bij mensen met dementie en een migratieachtergrond ‘Op weg’ naar een methodiek voor verpleegkundigen

Verpleegkundigen vinden het lastig om goede dementiezorg te bieden aan mensen met een migratieachtergrond en hun mantelzorgers als er sprake is van onbegrepen gedrag. Bestaande methodieken voor het omgaan met onbegrepen gedrag sluiten niet aan op de situatie van deze doelgroep. In het...

Assessing Frailty with the Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI)

Objective: The Tilburg Frailty Instrument (TFI) is an instrument for assessing frailty in community-dwelling older people. Since its development, many studies have been carried out examining the psychometric properties. The aim of this study was to provide a review of the main...

The prediction of mortality by quality of life assessed with the WHOQOL‑BREF

Abstract Purpose To determine the predictive value of quality of life for mortality at the domain and item levels. Methods This longitudinal study was carried out in a sample of 479 Dutch people aged 75 years or older living independently, using a follow-up of 7 years. Participants...

Frailty at Risk Scale (FARS)

Abstract The aim of this cross-sectional study was to develop a Frailty at Risk Scale (FARS) incorporating ten well-known determinants of frailty: age, sex, marital status, ethnicity, education, income, lifestyle, multimorbidity, life events, and home living environment. In addition,...

Learning and innovation network in nursing

A B S T R A C T Background: Approximately 4 years ago a new concept of learning in practice called the ‘Learning and Innovation Network (LIN)’ was introduced in The Netherlands. To develop a definition of the LIN, to identify working elements of the LIN in order to provide a...

Exploring associations between multidimensional frailty and oral health in community-dwelling older people

Abstract Objective: To determine the associations between four validated multidimensional self-report frailty scales and nine indices of oral health in communitydwelling older persons. Materials and Methods: This pilot study was conducted in a sample of 208 older persons aged 70...

The role of the Sunfrail tool in the screening of frailty and in integrated community‑hospital care pathways

Abstract Background One of the most problematic expression of ageing is frailty, and an approach based on its early identification is mandatory. The Sunfrail-tool (ST), a 9-item questionnaire, is a promising instrument for screening frailty. Aims • To assess the diagnostic accuracy...

Blended Self-Management Interventions to Reduce Disease Burden in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma

Abstract: Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma have a high prevalence and disease burden. Blended self-management interventions, which combine eHealth with face-to-face interventions, can help reduce the disease burden. Objective: This systematic review...

The Implications for Nursing Care of Frail Elderly with Limited Self-Management Abilities

Abstract Aim: To gain insight into the relationship between self-management abilities (taking initiatives, investment behaviour, variety, multifunctionality, self-efficacy, positive frame of mind) and physical, psychological and social frailty. Design: A cross-sectional...

Publicatielijst Robbert Gobbens

De publicatielijst bevat alle publicaties waar Robbert Gobbens aan bijgedragen heeft in de periode 2005 - 2020

The effects of sociodemographic factors on quality of life among people aged 50 years or older are not unequivocal

Objective: The effects of sociodemographic factors on quality of life in older people differ strongly, possibly due to the fact that different measurement instruments have been used. The main aim of this cross-sectional study is to compare the associations of sex, age, marital status,...

Cross-sectional and Longitudinal Associations of Environmental Factors with Frailty and Disability in Older People

A B S T R A C T Purpose: To determine cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of environmental factors with frailty and disability. Methods: This study was conducted in a sample of Dutch citizens. At baseline the sample consisted of 429 subjects (aged ≥ 65 years); a subset...

Leer- en innovatie netwerk

Leer- en Innovatie-Netwerk (LIN) Een Leer- en InnovatieNetwerk (LIN) is een intensieve samenwerking tussen een zorginstelling en het onderwijs. Studenten, verpleegkundigen en verzorgenden werken er samen aan kwaliteits- projecten die voortkomen uit vragen en behoeften van de...

Assessment of the relationship between frailty syndrome and the nutritional status of older patients

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between frailty syndrome and the nutritional status of older patients. Material and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample of 120 patients hospitalized at the Geriatric Clinic between January 2017...

Health‑related quality of life at hospital discharge as a predictor for 6‑month unplanned readmission and all‑cause mortality of acutely admitted older medical patients

Abstract Purpose To assess whether health-related quality of life (HRQOL) status, using the European Quality of life-5 dimensions (EQ5D), in acutely admitted older medical patients was associated with a combined end-point including first unplanned readmission or death without prior...

Associations of ADL and IADL disability with physical and mental dimensions of quality of life in people aged 75 years and older

Background. Quality of life is an important health outcome for older persons. It predicts the adverse outcomes of institutionalization and premature death. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the influence of both disability in activities of daily living (ADL)...

Effects of frailty and chronic diseases on quality of life in Dutch community-dwelling older adults

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine the associations between frailty and multimorbidity on the one hand and quality of life on the other in community-dwelling older people. Methods: A questionnaire was sent to all people aged 70 years and older belonging...

Exploring the efficiency of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator

Abstract: Due to rapidly aging human populations, frailty has become an essential concept, as it identifies older people who have higher risk of adverse outcomes, such as disability, institutionalization, lower quality of life, and premature death. The Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI)...

Hypertension and Frailty Syndrome in Old Age

Abstract: Hypertension is both a health problem and a financial one globally. It affects nearly 30 % of the general population. Elderly people, aged ≥65 years, are a special group of hypertensive patients. In this group, the overall prevalence of the disease reaches 60 %, rising to 70...

Psychometric properties of the Dutch WHOQOL-OLD

Abstract Background: To assess the internal consistency reliability and construct validity of the Dutch version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Older Adults Module (WHOQOL-OLD). Methods: The psychometric properties of the Dutch WHOQOL-OLD were examined...

Get the Picture

Background: Postprocedural complications after elective cardiac interventions include hematomas and infections. Telemedical wound assessment using mobile phones with integrated cameras may improve quality of care and help reduce costs. Aims: We aimed to study the feasibility of...

A comparison between uni- and multidimensional frailty measures

Background: Over the years, a plethora of frailty assessment tools has been developed. These instruments can be basically grouped into two types of conceptualizations – unidimensional, based on the physical–biological dimension – and multidimensional, based on the connections among...