EFFICHRONIC study protocol: a non-controlled, multicentre European prospective study to measure the efficiency of a chronic disease self-management programme in socioeconomically vulnerable populations

Abstract

IntroductionMore than 70% of world mortality is due to chronic conditions. Furthermore, it has been proven that social determinants have an enormous impact on both health-related behaviour and on the received attention from healthcare services. These determinants cause health inequalities. The objective of this study is to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in five European regions, hereby focusing on vulnerable populations, and to increase the sustainability of health systems by implementing a chronic disease self-management programme (CDSMP).Methods and analysis2000 people with chronic conditions or informal caregivers belonging to vulnerable populations, will be enrolled in the CDSMP in Spain, Italy, the UK, France and the Netherlands. Inclusion of patients will be based on geographical, socioeconomic and clinical stratification processes. The programme will be evaluated in terms of self-efficacy, quality of life and cost-effectiveness using a combination of validated questionnaires at baseline and 6 months from baseline.Ethics and disseminationThis study will follow the directives of the Helsinki Declaration and will adhere to the European Union General Data Protection Regulation. The project’s activities, progress and outcomes will be disseminated via promotional materials, the use of mass media, online activities, presentations at events and scientific publications.Trial registration number ISRCTN70517103; Pre-results.

Impact of Chronic Disease Self-Management Program on the Self-Perceived Health of People in Areas of Social Vulnerability in Asturias, Spain

“…Adults experiencing chronic conditions persisting for over six months and their caregivers were invited to participate provided they resided in or frequented socio-sanitary centres located in socially vulnerable areas, had their basic housing needs covered, were fluent in the local language, and met one or more of the following criteria: being over 65 years old and living alone, residing in nursing homes, incarcerated individuals, individuals undergoing rehabilitation, migrants, ethnic minorities, or individuals with low incomes or educational attainment. Those with cognitive impairment, active addictions, or major mental illness hindering participation in group dynamics were excluded [26,27].…”

“…After mapping priority vulnerable geographical areas identified through two deprivation indexes (rural and urban), several recruitment strategies were employed through the public healthcare system and networking with social structures (local initiatives, non-government organizations, and associations). Opportunistic recruitment and snowballing through the participants themselves were also used [26,28].…”

Deciphering Pain in Vulnerable People with Chronic Conditions

“…The EFFICHRONIC intervention [36,37] is part of the Third EU Health Programme, which addresses the chronic disease challenge. The CDSMP [35] was implemented in five European regions (Occitanie in France, province of Genoa in Italy, principality of Asturias in Spain, region of Rotterdam in the Netherlands, and the region of London in the United Kingdom).…”

Impact of the chronic disease self-management program (CDSMP) on self-perceived frailty condition: the EU-EFFICHRONIC project

“…The EU-funded project EFFICHRONIC (Enhancing health systems sustainability by providing cost-efficiency data based interventions for chronic management in stratified population based on clinical and socio-economic determinants of health) tested the impact of the implementation of the CDSMP on the health systems sustainability in five European countries (France, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, UK) in terms of the positive return of investment and cost-efficiency. 13,14 In this framework it has been recently developed and validated a self-administered version of the Multidimensional Prognostic Index (SELFY-MPI). 15 This is derived from the Multidimensional Prognostic Index (MPI) a well-validated prognostic tool exploring the multidimensional impairment across multiple areas including physical, cognitive, biological, nutritional, and social domains.…”