Optimising personal continuity for older patients in general practice: a study protocol for a cluster randomised stepped wedge pragmatic trial.

Autor: Groot LJJ; Department of General Practice, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, location VU University Medical Centre, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081, BT, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. l.groot@amsterdamumc.nl., Schers HJ; Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein 21, 6525, EZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands., Burgers JS; MUMC+/ Maastricht University, Department of General Practice, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Universiteitssingel 40, 6229, ER, Maastricht, the Netherlands., Schellevis FG; Department of General Practice, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, location VU University Medical Centre, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081, BT, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., Smalbrugge M; Department of Medicine for Older People, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, location VU University Medical Centre, De Boelelaan 1109, 1081, HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., Uijen AA; Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Geert Grooteplein 21, 6525, EZ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands., van de Ven PM; Department of Epidemiology and Data Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1089a, 1081, HV, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., van der Horst HE; Department of General Practice, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, location VU University Medical Centre, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081, BT, Amsterdam, the Netherlands., Maarsingh OR; Department of General Practice, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, location VU University Medical Centre, van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081, BT, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: BMC family practice [BMC Fam Pract] 2021 Oct 20; Vol. 22 (1), pp. 207. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Oct 20.
DOI: 10.1186/s12875-021-01511-y
Abstrakt: Background: Continuity of care, in particular personal continuity, is a core principle of general practice and is associated with many benefits such as a better patient-provider relationship and lower mortality. However, personal continuity is under pressure due to changes in society and healthcare. This affects older patients more than younger patients. As the number of older patients will double the coming decades, an intervention to optimise personal continuity for this group is highly warranted.
Methods: Following the UK Medical Research Council framework for complex Interventions, we will develop and evaluate an intervention to optimise personal continuity for older patients in general practice. In phase 0, we will perform a literature study to provide the theoretical basis for the intervention. In phase I we will define the components of the intervention by performing surveys and focus groups among patients, general practitioners, practice assistants and practice nurses, concluded by a Delphi study among members of our group. In phase II, we will test and finalise the intervention with input from a pilot study in two general practices. In phase III, we will perform a stepped wedge cluster randomised pragmatic trial. The primary outcome measure is continuity of care from the patients' perspective, measured by the Nijmegen Continuity Questionnaire. Secondary outcome measures are level of implementation, barriers and facilitators for implementation, acceptability and feasibility of the intervention. In phase IV, we will establish the conditions for large-scale implementation.
Discussion: This is the first study to investigate an intervention for improving personal continuity for older patients in general practice. If proven effective, our intervention will enable General practitioners to improve the quality of care for their increasing population of older patients. The pragmatic design of the study will enable evaluation in real-life conditions, facilitating future implementation.
Trial Registration Number: Netherlands Trial Register, trial NL8132 . Registered 2 November 2019.
(© 2021. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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