Jeanette Reffstrup Christensen

Jeanette Reffstrup Christensen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, affiliated with the Research Unit of General Practice and the User Perspectives and Community-based Interventions group. She is also part of the SDU Climate Cluster, reflecting her interdisciplinary engagement in public health and environmental health intersections.

Her research is deeply rooted in occupational therapy and patient-centered care, focusing on improving the lives of individuals with chronic conditions such as rheumatoid and inflammatory arthritis. Key areas include vocational rehabilitation, lifestyle interventions, physical activity promotion through social prescribing, cardiovascular risk screening, and nature-based rehabilitation for acquired brain injury. Her work often employs qualitative and mixed methods to understand patient and healthcare professional perspectives.

Her recent publications (2022–2025) reveal a strong trend towards developing and evaluating community-based, interdisciplinary interventions that bridge healthcare sectors and empower patients. Themes include work rehabilitation (WORK-ON), nature-based therapy (KOM UD), weight management (DO:IT), and social prescribing, all aimed at enhancing quality of life and functional ability.

Scientific Awards:

• ROPOX prisen (2020)

Jeanette Reffstrup Christensen is actively involved in research supervision and teaching. She has supervised multiple PhD projects on topics such as nature-based rehabilitation, vocational support for inflammatory arthritis, and cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis. Her projects often involve collaboration with healthcare professionals and focus on translating research into practical, community-based interventions. She has also contributed to peer review, conference presentations, and public dissemination of research through media engagement.

She leads and participates in research teams focused on chronic disease management and rehabilitation, emphasizing user involvement and real-world feasibility. Her work bridges clinical practice, research, and policy, aiming to improve health outcomes through meaningful, occupation-focused interventions.