Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Assessment of Burden of Chronic Conditions (ABCC) tool in patients with COPD, asthma, diabetes mellitus type 2 and heart failure: protocol for a pragmatic clustered quasi-experimental study

Abstract

IntroductionThe number of people that have one or multiple condition(s) with a chronic course is rising, which consequently challenges healthcare systems. Healthcare geared to long-term care should focus on patient-centredness, shared decision making and self-management. The Assessment of Burden of Chronic Conditions (ABCC) tool was developed to integrate these elements in daily healthcare practice. The ABCC tool assesses and visualises burden of disease(s), helps to make shared decisions and stimulates self-management. The present paper documents a protocol for a quasi-experimental study investigating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the ABCC tool for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, type 2 diabetes mellitus and/or heart failure.Methods and analysisThe study has a pragmatic clustered quasi-experimental design and will be conducted in the Netherlands. The intervention will be allocated at the level of general practice. The intervention group (18 general practices, 180 patients) will use the ABCC tool during regular consultations; the control group (18 general practices, 180 patients) will maintain usual care. Outcomes include change in quality of care (Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care), quality of life (EuroQol-5D-5L), capability well-being (ICEpop CAPability measure for Adults), patients’ activation (Patient Activation Measure) and costs. Follow-up time will be 18 months. Outcomes will be analysed using linear mixed models.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was obtained from the Medical Ethics Committee Zuyderland-Zuyd Heerlen, the Netherlands (METCZ20180131). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and will be presented at national and international conferences.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT04127383).

Validity and Reliability of the Assessment of Burden of Chronic Conditions Scale in the Netherlands

“…Lastly, to test the effectiveness of the ABCC tool and evaluate user experiences when employing the tool in clinical practice, further research should be performed. 44 The ABCC scale is a brief self-administered questionnaire that measures the experienced burden of disease for people with COPD, asthma, or T2D. This study provides evidence for the validity and reliability of the ABCC scale in a Dutch population.…”

Understanding the healthcare providers’ perspective for bringing the assessment of burden of chronic conditions tool to practice: a protocol for an implementation study

“…The Standards for Reporting Implementation Studies were considered while composing this study protocol (see online supplemental appendix 1). 15 16 This implementation study will be conducted alongside an effectiveness trial (details of the effectiveness-part of the study are described elsewhere9). In short, a pragmatic clustered quasi-experimental study will be conducted in general practices in the Netherlands evaluating the effect of the ABCC-tool on patients’ perceived quality of care, QoL, patient activation, capability well-being and costs.…”

“…The tool is now being evaluated for its effectiveness in improving patients’ experienced quality of care. 9 The transition of the ABCC-tool from the scientific development and evaluation phase towards routine clinical application is driven by implementation processes. 4 5 10 Understanding these processes is key in understanding its effects as well as facilitating large-scale implementation of the ABCC-tool.…”

“…As such, the ABCC-tool enables HCP and patient to address the experienced burden and to formulate personalised goals for the domains of choice. The tool is now being evaluated for its effectiveness in improving patients’ experienced quality of care 9. The transition of the ABCC-tool from the scientific development and evaluation phase towards routine clinical application is driven by implementation processes 4 5 10.…”

Samen sterk door persoonsgerichte en digitale zorg

“…Van een deel ervan is aangetoond dat ze meerwaarde hebben in de huisartsenpraktijk, maar om hun bijdrage aan daadwerkelijk persoonsgerichte zorg te bepalen is meer onderzoek nodig. Ziektelastmeter voor Chronische Aandoeningen 37,38 Instrument dat de ervaren last van een aandoening via een figuur met ballonnen inzichtelijk maakt. Patiënt en huisarts of POH kunnen de ballonnen bespreken en vervolgens doelen stellen.…”