prof. dr. M.H. (Marco) Blanker

I am a professor of primary care, focussing on the durable accessibility of primary care. 

My previous works were mainly on urological research, especially the epidemiology of male lower urinary tract symptoms (including nocturia), and prostate cancer screening in general practice. 

I lead the research program 'Pelvic- and abdominal problems', that includes five research themes. Next to this, I have conducted (ongoing) studies on interdisciplinary consultations between GPs and specialists, and I am involved in the Dutch General Practice Research Consortium, as one of the coordinators.

URINARY INCONTINENCE

• Treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: bulking agents and midurethral slings
  In this observational study, two treatments for stress UI are compared on outcomes and patient preferences. This project is initiated and conducted in Isala (Marian Engberts and Hugo van Eijndhoven).
  Researcher: Nienke Osse (MD-PhD student)
  Funding: Isala Innovation & Science
  
  
• Child incontinence
  Mixed-method study, including qualitative approach towards expectations and experiences of children (and their parents) with urinary incontinence as the reason for referral to secondary care at Isala (Zwolle), questionnaire study involving referring GPS, retrospective and prospective database on diagnostic and treatment pathways.
  Researcher: Marleen Linde (PhD-student).
  Funded by Isala Innovation & Science (144K)
  Status: ongoing.
  
  
• Outpatient care for prolaps and urinary incontinence
  Women with prolapse or incontinence, referred to secondary care at Isala are followed for one year. At inclusion, women are asked for their treatment preferences and expectations. Diagnostic and treatment patterns are studied.
  Researcher: Alec Malmberg (dept of gynaecology, PhD-student), Marieke Eijkelkamp
  Funded by Isala Innovation & Science (28K).
  Status: data collection completed.
  
  
• URinControl 
  In the URinControl study, an app was developed for women with involuntary loss of urine. In an RCT, the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness were demonstrated compared to standard care. The app treatment turns out to be non-inferior and saves money.
  In 2021 Anne Loohuis obtained her doctorate for her research
  Funded by ZonMw (250K).
  More information on www.urincontrol.nl 
  Status: finished (2021)
  
  
• Continence care
  Evaluation of the Module Continence Supportive Care (Module Continentie Hulpmiddelen). Prospective observational cohort study with pharmacies.
  Funded by ZonMW (299K)
  Status: finished (2021)

PELVIC FLOOR

• Pelvic floor cohort - Coevorden study
  Prospective cohort study in the general population on the prevalence and incidence of pelvic floor symptoms in men and women, and its association with pelvic floor muscle function.
  Researcher: Grietje Knol (postdoc), Francoise Notenboom-Nas (PhD-student).
  Funded by ZonMW (499K)
  Status: data collection completed.
  
  
• Male pelvic floor
  Observational cohort study including men who were referred to the urology outpatient department for lower urinary tract symptoms. In these men, next to the normal assessment, a MAPLE assessment has been performed. This includes the measurement of muscle activity with a rectal EMG-probe.
  Data collection has finished. Analyses are ongoing.
  Funding: none.

MALE LOWER URINARY TRACT SYMPTOMS

• URinControl4men (RCT)
  Randomised controlled trial comparing a patient tailored online intervention to care provided by Dutch GPs, for men with lower urinary tract symptoms.
  Researcher: Margreet Tieks (junior researcher)
  Funding: ZonMw (381K)

• URinControl4men (development)
  Development of a new, interactive, online selfmanagement program for men with lower urinary tract symptoms. Time series conducted in Isala, Martini Hospital adn Rijnstate (departments of urology).
  Researcher: Pim Brandenbarg, MSc.
  Funded by UMCG-Healthy ageing pilot (50K).
  Finished May 2019.
  
  
• Alpha-Blocker Cohort (ABC)-study
  An observational cohort study in men with a new prescription for an alpha-blocker for lower urinary tract symptoms. Patients are recruited via collaborating pharmacists in the wider Zwolle region.
  Funded by Hein Hoogerzeil Stichting (11K).
  Finished May 2019.

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS (UTI)

• Recurrent urinary tract symptoms
  Retrospective and prospective cohort study on secondary outpatient care for women with recurrent UTIs. 
  Researcher: Jop Pat (PhD student)
  Funded by Isala Innovation & Science (88K)
  
  
• Assessment and treatment of UTI in Germany and the Netherlands
  This Crossedborder Institute financed project compares the assessment of UTI-like symptoms in primary care, both in the Netherlands and Germany.
  Researcher: Aida Bedri (PhD-student at UMCG and Oldenburg University)
  Funded: Crossedborder Institute
  Status: ongoing.
  
  
• Patient preferences in the treatment of UTIs
  Discrete choice experiment, through an online questionnaire, about preferences for the different treatment options for women with episodic UTI.
  Researchers: bachelor students
  Funding: none.
  Status: finished, outcomes published.

OVERACTIVE BLADDER (OAB) TREATMENT

• Network meta-analyses anticholinergics
  Study initiated by the CLUE-working group, led by professor Kari Tikkinen. Together with Henk van der Worp, we lead this NMA.
  Funding: none.
  Status: ongoing.
  
  
• Sex-specific effect of mirabegron for OAB
  Individual Patient Data (IPD) meta-analyses, comparing the effect of mirabegron (vs. placebo) in men and women. Data retrieved from Clinical Data Study Request.
  Researcher; Angie Puerto Nino (PhD student Helsinki University)
  Funding: none.
  Status: ongoing.
  
  
• Secondary care treatment of OAB
  Collaboration with Isala, urology department, describing the consecutive treatments offered to women with OAB.
  Status: finished (2021).

INTERDISCIPLINARY CONSULTATIONS

• Evaluation of Prisma consultations
  The first 4,000 consultations posted on the Prisma platform were evaluated in a mixed-method study by a large group of medical students (research interns), supervised by our group.
  Funding: none.
  Status: data collection and analyses completed, manuscripts in preparation.
  
  
• Use of Prisma platform for psychiatric problems
  Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with GPs that use the Prisma platform for interdisciplinary consultations, including or excluding psychiatric cases. Outomes are combined with evaluation of the first 134 cases posted on the psychiatry-tile on this platform.
  Funding: Stoffels Hornstra Foundation (24K)
  Status: data collection completed, first (of 2) articles published.
  
  
• GP-consult: impact of an interdisciplinary consultation platform for GPs on referrals to secondary care.
  Stepped-wedge clustered randomised controlled trial, comparing care as usual with the availability to post interdisciplinary consultations on the Prisma platform. Main outcome is the number of referrals to the Isala Movement Centre.
  Researcher: Sanne Sanavro (PhD student, internist)
  Funding: ZonMw (223K), Hein Hogerzeilstichting (86K)

• Digital interdisciplinary consultation in Dutch primary care
  Collaboration with Maastricht University and RadboudUMC, looking to the broader perspective of interdisciplinary consultations. What forms of consultation are used by Dutch general practitioners, how do you measure the outcomes of this form of care, what works at what time are key questions.
  Researcher: Petra Buist (junior researcher)
  Funding: ZonMw (574K)

Supervision in earlier PhD trajectories:

• App-based treatment for female urinary incontinence - Evidence-based eHealth as an alternative to care-as-usual
  Randomised controlled trial on the impact of the URinControl app, for women with urinary incontinence.
  PhD project of Anne Loohuis
  Promotor: Marjolein Berger, Marco Blanker, copromotor Henk van der Worp
  Finished November 2021.
  
  
• Enuresis in adolescents
  Descriptive study on children and adolescents with enuresis (bedwetting), treated at the Dry Bed Center Meppel, the Netherlands.
  PhD project of Ilse Hofmeester, MD.
  Promotor Wout Feitz, pediatric urologist RadboudUMC. Copromotores Marco Blanker, Martijn Steffens.
  Finished October 2016.
  
  
• The use of prostate specific antigen (PSA) test by general practitioners and non-urological specialists 
  Descriptive study among physicians and patients considering PSA tests applied for prostate cancer screening.
  PhD project of Saskia van der Meer, MD.
  Promotor Klaas van der Meer, professor emeritus of general practice, and Rien Nijman, professor of urology UMCG, copromotor Marco Blanker.
  Finished Oktober 2015
  
  
• Epidemiologic aspects of nocturia and nocturnal polyuria in older men - A longitudinal analysis in community dwelling older men: the Krimpen study
  PhD project of Boris van Doorn.
  Promotor Ruud Bosch, urologist at UMCU. Copromotores Esther Kok, Marco Blanker
  Finished September 2014.