None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is often associated with high health care costs and a reduced quality of life for sufferers. Many different approaches have been used to assist patients to manage their condition at home and to improve communication between hospitals and GPs. Some approaches have been very successful, others less so. Some programs are expensive and some patients derive greater benefit than others. This study examines the costs and benefits of a program run by the Southern Adelaide Health Service (SAHS) for people with chronic lung disease, diabetes and heart failure. The study examines what impact the program is having on the rate of readmission to hospital, GP visits and other health costs, including use of medicines, for people with COPD. We will compare the Southern Adelaide program with usual care when a patient has had a recent hospital admission. Measuring lung function when a person with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is well, provides a good indication of disease progression. There may be other simpler indicators however, that help predict when, and how often, a person with chronic lung disease is likely to need hospital care. This is the second question that the study has been designed to answer.
Interventions
A prospective randomised controlled trial of the costs and benefits of the Chronic Disease Community Program compared to usual care, in patients with COPD.
Study Intervention
The Chronic Disease Community Program (CDCP) is a health systems intervention. CDCP aims to:
1. Improve information flow between hospitals, GPs and community-based health providers
2. Facilitate case conferences and care planning where appropriate
3. Increase access to Chronic Disease Self Management (CDSM) Programs and t
A prospective randomised controlled trial of the costs and benefits of the Chronic Disease Community Program compared to usual care, in patients with COPD. Study Intervention The Chronic Disease Community Program (CDCP) is a health systems intervention. CDCP aims to: 1. Improve information flow between hospitals, GPs and community-based health providers 2. Facilitate case conferences and care planning where appropriate 3. Increase access to Chronic Disease Self Management (CDSM) Programs and telephone coaching, home medicines review, allied health assessments and interventions and oral health care. 4. Plan and coordinate services to meet individual patient needs Individual programs are usually completed within 6 months, depending on access and scheduling of program components.
Sponsors
Flinders University
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Patients admitted to Flinders Medical Centre with a primary diagnosis of COPD from mid-July 2006 to Dec 31st 2007 and who consent to participate in the CDCP intervention.
Exclusion criteria
Patients who are admitted to hospital from, or returning to, a residential aged care facility.
Outcome results
None listed