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Enhanced Care for Patients With Complex Multimorbidity in Primary Care

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Multimorbidity
Interventions
Other: Complex intervention to enhance care for patients with multimorbidity in general practice consisting of an extended overview consultation and supporting elements
Registration Number
NCT05676541
Lead Sponsor
University of Copenhagen
Brief Summary

Introduction Patients living with a chronic disease often have more than one chronic condition, which is referred to as multimorbidity. Multimorbidity is associated with decreased quality of life, functional decline, polypharmacy, and increased healthcare utilization. Patients with multimorbidity often have a high symptom- and treatment burden, and have to attend multiple appointments, often at numerous locations, and comply with complex or even conflicting advice and drug regimens, resulting in an increased risk of depression and low quality of life. In Denmark, general practice is the key organizational setting in terms of offering people with complex multimorbidity integrated, longitudinal, patient-centered care. However, caring for patients with multimorbidity is a complex and time-consuming task and the organization of chronic care in general practice is organized around individual conditions.

Research question The objective of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a complex intervention consisting of a prolonged consultation and a strengthened cross-sectoral collaboration for patients with complex multimorbidity listed in participating practices on the patients' health-related quality of life, health and use of health-services.

Methods

Design:

A pragmatic, adaptive, cluster-randomized, non-blinded, parallel-group trial conducted in general practice in all regions in Denmark evaluating a complex intervention.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
50000
Inclusion Criteria

Adult (18 years or older) patients listed at participating GPs living in their own home with

  • Two or more chronic conditions from two of ten diagnosis groups OR who were identified by the GP with complex multimorbidity (see box 1)
  • At least one contact with secondary care in 2022 or 2023.
  • Prescribed at least five prescription drugs
Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
InterventionComplex intervention to enhance care for patients with multimorbidity in general practice consisting of an extended overview consultation and supporting elements-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Needs-based quality of life measured with MMQ1 - PROM2 years

The primary outcome is needs-based quality of life measured with MMQ1 (unpublished at present). The outcome consist of six unidimensional domains; physical capacity, worries, limitations in daily activities, social life, self-image and economy with a scale from 0-3 per item (sum scores differ due to differences in the number f items) We expect our intervention to be able to affect the three domains; worries, limitations in daily life and social life.

We will consider a clinically significant improvement in at least one domain as a success.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Treatment burden (MMQ1-TB) - PROM2 years

Under validation. The PROM consists of six domains with response categories from 0-3.

a high score means high burden (negative)

Patient-perceived patient-centeredness of consultations (PCC-GP) -PROM2 years

Under validation, The PROM consists of eight domains with response categories from 0-3. a high score means high patient-centeredness (positive)

Mortality - registry-based2 years

Number of deaths in each group per patient-years at risk

GP work satisfaction related to care for patients with multimorbidity - questionnaire2 years

We have developed six items regarding work satisfaction/burden in relation to working with patients with MM in general practice. A clinically significant difference between the groups in at least one of the items will be considered a success.

GP burn-out - questionnaire2 years

If we get access to the national GP burnout questionnaire data, we will use the data to report this outcome. But the outcome depends on the questionnaire being distributed at an appropriate time which is not currently yet planned.

Use of outpatient and other planned health services in secondary care (including new referrals), registry-based2 years

All contacts in secondary care will be combined and the number of contacts compared between groups

Nursing home placement registry-based2 years

Number of nursing home placements in each group in total and per patient year at risk

Use of other primary care health services (such as private specialists and out-of-hours care) registry-based.2 years

All contacts in primary care will be combined and the number of contacts compared between groups

Hospitalizations - registry-based2 years

Number of hospitalizations in each group in total and per patient-years at risk. Any admittance to the hospital counts regardless if it is planned or unplanned and regardless the duration.

Use of health services in general practice registry-based2 years

This outcome combines all use of health services in general practice regardless contact form. It will be measured as number of contacts

Health service use in the municipalities - registry-based2 years

All contacts in the municipalities regarding health and rehabilitation will be combined and the number of contacts compared between groups

number of prescription medicines - registry-based2 years

Number of prescription medicines per patient in each group (as a count regardless indication)

Polypharmacy - registry-based2 years

Number of patients with polypharmacy (more than 5 prescription drugs) in each group

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

General practices in all of Denmark

🇩🇰

Copenhagen, Denmark

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