Because of the attention given to the role of prevention, NIVEL is tackling this topic substantially. In 2009 the Preventive Consultation has been developed for GPs, to identify people who run higher risks and to offer tailored advice or treatment. The activities around the Preventive Consultation have a scientific base. In 2009-2010 NIVEL will assess the trial implementation of the Preventive Consultation and it will continue this assessment. Following the developments around the Preventive Consultation, the Health Ministry is aiming to include ‘Exercise Treatment’ in the health insurance package. This is a lifestyle intervention – meant firstly for patients with diabetes – which is going to be adapted for people suffering from obesity.

All across society preventive programmes are being developed and applied to improve the Dutch population’s health. Over the coming years NIVEL will focus on assessing such programmes. In the proposed National Study of Illnesses and Care in the Primary Sector for instance, the GP’s role in prevention will also be researched. Prevention is also a topic in other NIVEL data collections. Within LiPZ, dieticians in private practice have been recording various aspects of their dietetic care since 2006. The biggest group of their clients is constituted by people suffering from obesity, often in combination with diabetes mellitus or abnormally high cholesterol levels. Using the LiPZ-data, it can be charted how much and what kind of care these patients are receiving, and an estimate can be made of the care outcomes.

The connection of LINH data with video data offers a different perspective. Video recordings are available of about 3,500 patients from LINH-practices, and ‘contact details’ over a longer period are also available. Therefore, it is possible to select patients who are eligible for prevention and examine to what extent this is mentioned during the consultations.