Prof. Truls Østbye is Vice Chair of Research, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University. He is a chronic disease epidemiologist and public health researcher, has a special interest in obesity, diseases of the elderly and global health. His current research in the USA includes studies of: obesity in the postpartum period and in children, use of clinical preventive services, cognitive decline, health and social support among the elderly, doctor-patient communication, and occupational health surveillance among health care workers.
In Singapore, his current research includes studies of: health and lifestyles of elderly Singaporeans, physical, mental and social facets of care giving for elderly Singaporeans, risk factors for threatened and complete miscarriages, and evaluation of workplace health promotion programs. His global health projects include several relating to health and illness among vulnerable worker populations in Sri Lanka, febrile illness in Sri Lanka. He currently is the PI of two R01 grants from the NIH and he has authored or coauthored over 400 peer reviewed papers in the medical and public health literature.