Person-centred and efficient care delivery for high-need, high-cost patients: primary care professionals' experiences

Measures during the COVID-19 pandemic in public primary health care in Greece: is there still a missing link to universal health coverage?

BACKGROUND

The PRICOV-19 study aimed to assess the organization of primary health care (PHC) during the COVID-19 pandemic in 37 European countries and Israel; and its impact on different dimensions of quality of care. In this paper, we described measures taken by public PHC centers in Greece. Additionally, we explored potential differences between rural and non-rural settings.

METHODS

The study population consisted of the 287 public PHC centers in Greece. A random sample of 100 PHC centers stratified by Health Region was created. The online questionnaire consisted of 53 items, covering six sections: general information on the PHC center, patient flow, infection prevention, information processing, communication to patients, collaboration, and collegiality.

RESULTS

Seventy-eight PHC centers (78%) - 50 rural and 28 non-rural - responded to the survey. Certain measures were reported by few PHC centers. Specifically, the use of online messages about complaints that can be solved without a visit to the PHC center (21% rural; and 31% non-rural PHC centers), the use of video consultations with patients (12% rural; and 7% non-rural PHC centers), and the use of electronic medical records (EMRs) to systematically identify the list of patients with chronic conditions (5% rural; and 10% non-rural PHC centers) were scarcely reported. Very few PHC centers reported measures to support identifying and reaching out to vulnerable population, including patients that may have experienced domestic violence (8% rural; and 7% non-rural PHC centers), or financial problems (26% rural; and 7% non-rural PHC centers). Providing administrative documents to patients through postal mail (12% rural; and 21% non-rural PHC centers), or regular e-mail (11% rural; and 36% non-rural PHC centers), or through a secured server (8% rural; and 18% non-rural PHC centers) was rarely reported. Finally, providing information in multiple languages through a PHC website (12% rural PHC centers only), or an answering machine (6% rural PHC centers only), or leaflets (3% rural PHC centers only; and for leaflets specifically on COVID-19: 6% rural; and 8% non-rural PHC centers) were lacking in most PHC centers.

CONCLUSION

Our study captured measures implemented by few PHC centers suggesting potential priority areas of future improvement.

Supporting professionals to implement integrated, person-centered care for people with chronic conditions: the TARGET pilot study

OBJECTIVE

The TARGET program for integrated, person-centered care for people with chronic conditions offers primary care (PC) professionals a set of tools and trainings to actively engage in population segmentation and person-centered needs assessments (PCNAs). A pilot study was conducted to gain insight into the program's feasibility and acceptability, and identify preconditions for successful implementation.

DESIGN AND SETTING

Seven Dutch PC practices participated in a half-year pilot study starting in August 2020. We performed a review of the population segmentation tool, observed four training sessions and 15 PCNAs, and interviewed 15 professionals and 12 patients.

RESULTS

Regarding feasibility and acceptability, we found that the tools and trainings provided professionals with skills to use the segmentation tool and take a more coaching role in the well-appreciated PCNAs. Concerning implementation preconditions, we found that team commitment and network connections need improvement, although work pleasure increased and professionals generally wanted the program to continue.

CONCLUSIONS

While the content of the TARGET program is supported by its users, the implementation process, for instance team commitment to the program, needs more attention in future upscaling efforts.

Development of a Person-Centred Integrated Care Approach for Chronic Disease Management in Dutch Primary Care: A Mixed-Method Study

To reduce the burden of chronic diseases on society and individuals, European countries implemented chronic Disease Management Programs (DMPs) that focus on the management of a single chronic disease. However, due to the fact that the scientific evidence that DMPs reduce the burden of chronic diseases is not convincing, patients with multimorbidity may receive overlapping or conflicting treatment advice, and a single disease approach may be conflicting with the core competencies of primary care. In addition, in the Netherlands, care is shifting from DMPs to person-centred integrated care (PC-IC) approaches. This paper describes a mixed-method development of a PC-IC approach for the management of patients with one or more chronic diseases in Dutch primary care, executed from March 2019 to July 2020. In Phase 1, we conducted a scoping review and document analysis to identify key elements to construct a conceptual model for delivering PC-IC care. In Phase 2, national experts on Diabetes Mellitus type 2, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and local healthcare providers (HCP) commented on the conceptual model using online qualitative surveys. In Phase 3, patients with chronic conditions commented on the conceptual model in individual interviews, and in Phase 4 the conceptual model was presented to the local primary care cooperatives and finalized after processing their comments. Based on the scientific literature, current practice guidelines, and input from a variety of stakeholders, we developed a holistic, person-centred, integrated approach for the management of patients with (multiple) chronic diseases in primary care. Future evaluation of the PC-IC approach will show if this approach leads to more favourable outcomes and should replace the current single-disease approach in the management of chronic conditions and multimorbidity in Dutch primary care.

How do people living with chronic conditions and their informal caregivers experience primary care? A phenomenological-hermeneutical study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Gaining insight in how people living with chronic conditions experience primary healthcare within their informal network.

BACKGROUND

The primary healthcare system is challenged by the increasing number of people living with chronic conditions. To strengthen chronic care management, literature and policy plans point to a person-centred approach of care (PCC). A first step to identify an appropriate strategy to implement PCC is to gain more insight into the care experiences of these people and their informal caregivers.

DESIGN

A phenomenological-hermeneutical philosophy is used. The study is in line with the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research Guidelines (COREQ).

METHOD

In-depth, semi-structured interviews with people living with chronic conditions and informal caregiver dyads (PCDs) (n = 16; 32 individuals) were conducted. An open-ended interview guide was used to elaborate on the PCDs' experiences regarding primary care. A purposive, maximal variation sampling was applied to recruit the participants.

RESULTS

Based on sixteen PCDs' reflections, ten themes were identified presenting their experiences with primary care and described quality care as listening and giving attention to what people with chronic conditions want, to what they strive for, and above all to promote their autonomy in a context wherein they are supported by a team of formal caregivers, family and friends.

CONCLUSION

To meet the PCDs' needs, self-management should be addressed in an interprofessional environment in which the PCD is an important partner. The findings may facilitate a shift to encourage PCDs in their strengths by enabling them to share their personal goals and by working towards meaningful activities in team collaboration.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Three strategies-self-management support, goal-oriented care, and interprofessional collaboration-have been suggested to improve the PCDs' primary care experiences. These strategies could guide nursing practice in using more and improve high-quality nursing care.

Barriers adult refugees face to community health and patient engagement: a systematic review

Meeting the health needs of refugee populations and increasing access to healthcare remains a challenge for healthcare systems globally. As such, community health and patient engagement are increasingly recommended strategies to address health-related issues among refugees. This systematic review aims to identify the reported barriers that adult refugees encounter with community health and patient engagement. Data sources included MEDLINE, Embase, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL, and Core Collection (Web of Science), yielding 1156 records. After removing duplicates and two levels of screening, 18 studies were selected for qualitative analysis. The barriers were conceptualised as cultural norms, pre-departure history, education, language proficiency, stigma, racism, social support, and multi-factorial barriers. These barriers can be addressed to improve rapport with refugees and the quality of community health and patient engagement initiatives.

Person-centred care in primary care: What works for whom, how and in what circumstances?

This rapid realist review aims to explain how and why person-centred care (PCC) in primary care works (or not) among others for people with low health literacy skills and for people with a diverse ethnic and socioeconomic background, and to construct a middle-range programme theory (PT). Peered reviewed- and non-peer-reviewed literature (Jan 2013-Feb 2021) reporting on PCC in primary care was included. Selection and appraisal of documents were based on relevance and rigour according to the Realist And Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards (RAMESES) criteria. Data on context, mechanisms and outcomes (CMO) were extracted. Based on the extracted data, CMO configurations were identified per source publication. Configurations containing all three constructs (CMO) were included in the PT. The middle-range PT demonstrates that healthcare professionals (HCPs) should be trained and equipped with the knowledge and skills to communicate effectively (i.e. in easy-to-understand words, emphatically, checking whether the patient understands everything, listening attentively) tailored to the wishes, needs and possibilities of the patient, which may lead to higher satisfaction. This way the patient will be more involved in the care process and in the shared decision-making process, which may result in improved concordance, and an improved treatment approach. A respectful and empathic attitude of the HCP plays an important role in establishing a strong therapeutic relationship and improved health (system) outcomes. Together with a good accessibility of care for patients, setting up a personalised care plan with all involved parties may positively affect the self-management skills of patients. Good collaboration within the team and between different domains is desirable to ensure good care coordination. The coherence of items related to PCC in primary care should be considered to better understand its effectiveness.

Dizziness in older persons at high risk of future hospitalization: prevalence, differences between those with and without dizziness, and effect of a proactive primary care intervention

Background

Dizziness is a common reason for seeking care, and frequently affects older persons. The aims were to determine the prevalence of dizziness in older persons at high risk of hospitalization, to compare subjects with and without dizziness, and to examine the effects on dizziness of a proactive primary care intervention in comparison with conventional care after one year.

Methods

Data were derived from a prospective multicentre clinical trial in persons aged 75 and older and at high risk of hospitalization. A baseline questionnaire included demographic data, use of aids, questions about everyday physical activity and exercise, pain (intensity, frequency, and duration), activities of daily living measured using the ADL Staircase, and health-related quality of life measured using the EQ-5D-3L vertical visual analogue scale. Both at baseline and after one year, subjects were asked about dizziness, and those with dizziness answered the Dizziness Handicap Inventory – Screening version. Subjects in the intervention group were evaluated by a primary care team and when needed proactive care plans were established. Groups were compared using the Mann Whitney U-test or chi-squared test.

Results

Of the 779 subjects, 493 (63%) experienced dizziness. Persons with dizziness differed regarding sex, homecare service, aids, activities of daily living, health-related quality of life, physical activity, and pain. The intervention did not significantly reduce the level of dizziness.

Conclusions

Dizziness is common in vulnerable older persons, and individuals with dizziness differ in several respects. Further studies are needed employing more dizziness-specific assessment and individually tailored interventions.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov 170608, ID: NCT03180606.

First Things First: How to Elicit the Initial Program Theory for a Realist Evaluation of Complex Integrated Care Programs

Policy Points Realist evaluation (RE) is an emerging and promising research approach for evaluating integrated care, addressing what works, how, for whom, and in what circumstances. The rich philosophical foundation of RE, critical realism, can help to systematically unravel an integrated care program's initial theory prior to implementation, as a first step within RE. RE can be considered a robust methodological asset in integrated care research by facilitating a deeper level of insight into program functioning than traditional forms of evaluation do and by shaping a realist-informed monitoring and evaluation process.

CONTEXT

The complexity of integrated care and the need for transferable evaluation insights ask for a suitable evaluation paradigm. Realist evaluation (RE), underpinned by the philosophy of critical realism, is a theory-driven approach that addresses what works, how, for whom, and in what circumstances. The current study illustrates the process needed for RE's first step: eliciting the initial program theory (IPT). The TARGET program, a Dutch primary care initiative to facilitate more integrated care for chronically ill patients, i.e., care that is efficient, tailored, and holistic,  was taken as a real-world case.

METHODS

An RE approach informed the phased IPT elicitation: (1) identifying an abstract theory framework; (2) formulating the preliminary IPT, building on the abstract theory and informed by previous scientific studies that underpin TARGET; and (3) refining the preliminary IPT, informed by RE expert interviews (n = 7). An RE heuristic tool, specifying the interplay between intervention-context-actors-mechanisms-outcomes (ICAMO) and retroductive reasoning, was applied to synthesize the underlying theory of individual TARGET components into TARGET's IPT.

FINDINGS

Separate but related IPTs were identified for the two main types of actors involved in TARGET: primary care professionals (PCPs) and patients. For both actors, two sorts of mechanisms are assumed to be activated by TARGET, which-via instrumental outcomes-contribute to long-term quadruple aim targets. The first is confidence to enhance PCPs' person-centered conversational skills and to increase patients' active engagement in TARGET. The second is mutual trust, between PCPs and patients and between PCPs and their network partners. A supportive context is assumed crucial for activating these mechanisms-for example, sufficient resources to invest in integrated care.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the IPT elicitation process is time intensive and requires a mind shift, it facilitates a deeper insight into program functioning than accommodated by the prevailing experimental designs in integrated care. Furthermore, the design of a realist-informed evaluation process can be informed by the IPT.

The Patient Centered Assessment Method (PCAM) for Action-Based Biopsychosocial Evaluation of Patient Needs: Validation and Perceived Value of the Dutch Translation

The Patient Centered Assessment Method (PCAM) is an action-based tool that supports professionals to engage in a biopsychosocial assessment with patients and measure their needs. It is a promising tool for person-centered care. As the Netherlands lacks such a tool, a Dutch version was developed. Furthermore, we aimed to contribute to the relatively limited insights into the psychometric properties and value of the tool when used as part of a needs assessment in primary care. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to study construct validity and Cronbach’s alpha was computed to assess reliability. Furthermore, we interviewed 15 primary care professionals who used the PCAM. It was confirmed that each PCAM domain measures a separate construct, informed by the biopsychosocial model. The tool showed adequate reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.83). Despite face validity concerns, the tool was mainly valued for measurement of patient needs and to facilitate action planning. Criticism of the PCAM pertained to a limited focus on the patient perspective, which is one of the crucial aspects of person-centered care. These rich, mixed-method insights can help to improve the value of the PCAM, as one of the few multifunctional tools to support professionals in holistic assessments.

An eCoach-Pain for Patients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain in Interdisciplinary Primary Care: A Feasibility Study

eHealth could support cost-effective interdisciplinary primary care for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. This study aims to explore the feasibility of the eCoach-Pain, comprising a tool measuring pain complexity, diaries, pain education sessions, monitoring options, and chat function. Feasibility was evaluated (June–December 2020) by assessing learnability, usability, desirability, adherence to the application, and experiences from patients and general practitioners, practice nurses mental health, and physiotherapists. Six primary healthcare professionals (PHCPs) from two settings participated in the study and recruited 29 patients (72% female, median age 50.0 years (IQR = 24.0)). PHCPs participated in a focus group. Patient data was collected by evaluation questionnaires, individual interviews, and eCoach-Pain-use registration. Patients used the eCoach during the entire treatment phase (on average 107.0 days (IQR = 46.0); 23 patients completed the pain complexity tool and used the educational sessions, and 12 patients the chat function. Patients were satisfied with the eCoach-Pain (median grade 7.0 (IQR = 2.8) on a 0–10 scale) and made some recommendations for better fit with patient-specific complaints. According to PHCPs, the eCoach-Pain is of added value to their treatment, and patients also see treatment benefits. However, the implementation strategy is important for successful use of the eCoach-Pain. It is recommended to improve this strategy and involve a case-manager per patient.

Community-engaged healthcare model for currently under-served individuals involved in the healthcare system

In the US, many people are excluded from healthcare structures and systems, due to multiple macro and micro factors. Poverty, health ecosystems, mental health, and community amenities are some of the issues confronting those who are not able to access appropriate support. This population is often referred to as 'high needs, high cost' (HNHC), a term that has been applied to refer to people who repeatedly utilize services without significant benefit (we have replaced this term with 'currently under-served'; C-US). For many traditional health solutions may not address the fundamental issues confronting their health. Community-Engaged Healthcare (CEH) is an approach that equips members of the community to levy power to advocate for their own health or social solutions, designing their own interventions to address needs with support from health providers. A realist review was conducted to identify the existing literature around CEH. This yielded ten papers that were reviewed by at least two authors and rated in terms of quality. A model describing the processes underpinning CEH was then iteratively generated, resulting in additional terms that were used in a second review of the literature. A further 16 peer-reviewed articles were identified and were independently reviewed and quality rated. These articles were used to refine further iterations of the model and included in the review where appropriate. The resulting model schematically posits a set of relational factors identified to be important in the establishment of CEH. Notably, the transfer of autonomy and power over health decision-making processes is emphasized, which will require revolutionary thinking about how healthcare is delivered for patients.