Profiling Patients' Healthcare Needs to Support Integrated, Person-Centered Models for Long-Term Disease Management (Profile): Research Design

• Published in: International journal of integrated care Vol. 16; no. 2; p. 1
• Main Authors: Elissen, Arianne Mj, Hertroijs, Dorijn Fl, Schaper, Nicolaas C, Vrijhoef, Hubertus Jm, Ruwaard, Dirk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Ubiquity Press 29-04-2016
• Subjects: Chronic illnesses; Clinical decision making; Diabetes; Disease control; Disease management; Integrated Care Case; patient profiles; Patients; Primary care; study design; tailored care; Triple Aim; type 2 diabetes; Netherlands; Europe; Triple Aim; patient profiles; tailored care; type 2 diabetes; study design; disease management
• ISSN: 1568-4156; 1568-4156
• DOI: 10.5334/ijic.2208

This article presents the design of PROFILe, a study investigating which (bio)medical and non-(bio)medical patient characteristics should guide more tailored chronic care. Based on this insight, the project aims to develop and validate 'patient profiles' that can be used in practice to determine optimal treatment strategies for subgroups of chronically ill with similar healthcare needs and preferences.
PROFILe is a practice-based research comprising four phases. The project focuses on patients with type 2 diabetes. During the first study phase, patient profiles are drafted based on a systematic literature research, latent class growth modeling, and expert collaboration. In phase 2, the profiles are validated from a clinical, patient-related and statistical perspective. Phase 3 involves a discrete choice experiment to gain insight into the patient preferences that exist per profile. In phase 4, the results from all analyses are integrated and recommendations formulated on which patient characteristics should guide tailored chronic care.
PROFILe is an innovative study which uses a uniquely holistic approach to assess the healthcare needs and preferences of chronically ill. The patient profiles resulting from this project must be tested in practice to investigate the effects of tailored management on patient experience, population health and costs.