The zero line of health research: meaning, approach, and preconditions
Citizen science in which people investigate personal health questions can be regarded as the “zero line” or “baseline” of health research. This type of research can lead to functional and consequential discoveries. However, citizens’ personal research capacities are rarely used in regular health research or healthcare, even though they could form the basis of it. This article outlines the development of the zero line of health research propelled by the Self-Research Network Netherlands ( ZelfOnderzoek Netwerk Nederland ) and its partners in the broader patient movement and their efforts to connect it to regular ways of knowledge development.
Authors
- Gaston Remmers (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3486-9243)
- Rianne Wolswinkel
- Rosanne Y. Hertzberger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6119-9450)
- G. van Oortmerssen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0661-0833)
- Gerritjan Koekkoek (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5515-9156)
- Douwe E. Atsma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9664-2985)
- Martijn de Groot (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1294-698X)
- Anje A. te Velde (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4261-8450)
- Ilona Wilmont (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-8562-6507)
- Hester van de Bovenkamp (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6412-2707)
- Maaike de Vette
- K.E. Bevelander (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1011-7862)
- Marina Boeser
- Jan Meijerink
- Idelette Nutma
- Peter Voshol (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7748-9805)
- Henk Duinkerken
- Steff Beerenfenger
- Marco Koning
- Esther Bloem
- Joop van Gent
- Titus Radstake
Institutions
- Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
- Leiden University Medical Center (NL)
- Radboud University Medical Center (NL)
- Crohn's and Colitis UK (GB)
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers (NL)
- Erasmus University Rotterdam (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- TSG - Tijdschrift voor gezondheidswetenschappen
- Published
- 2026-09-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s12508-026-00539-8
- Primary Topic
- Mental Health and Patient Involvement
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00