The Project

Description of the project

As the global burden of disease shifts from communicable to non-communicable (NCD), chronic disease management has become a healthcare priority in low-income countries (LIC). While substantial resources have been devoted towards treating communicable diseases (especially HIV/TB/Malaria/Ebola), little has been directed towards managing NCDs (hypertension, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease). Health systems in LIC are poorly adept in managing the growing burden of NCDs and there remains a paucity of research into this epidemiologic transition as well as few providers who are trained to manage it. The central aim of the project is to create a Center of Excellence for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) located in rural Uganda.

 

Patient-centered education

is an essential component in chronic NCD management.1 Defined as a partnership between health care providers, patients, and families, patient-centered education provides patients with the information necessary to participate in medical decision-making. Medical care that is sensitive to patients and provided in a respectful and dignified fashion, leads to enhanced information sharing between all members of a treatment team.1,2,3,4 Patient-centered education has been shown to improve health outcomes and quality of life for patients with chronic diseases in studies performed in the USA and Europe.5,6

 

 

 

Based on these concepts, the project address the following set of objectives:

1   Enhanced clinical capacities and improved patient-centered care for NCD patients.
2   Improved knowledge on the feasibility and effectiveness of patient-centered care in LIC.
3   Global health education opportunities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

References:
1. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION . Preventing Chronic Diseases: A Vital Investment. WHO; Geneva: 2005
2. Stellefson M, Dipnarine K, Stopka C. The chronic care model and diabetes management in US primary care setting: a systematic review. Prev Chronic Dis. 2013;10:E26.
3. Houle J, Beaulieu MD, Lussier MT, et al. Patients’ experience of chronic illness care in a network of teaching settings. Can Fam Physician. 2012;58:1366-1378.
4. Wright Nunes, Julie, et al. “Pilot Study of a Physician-Delivered Education Tool to Increase Patient Knowledge About CKD.” American Journal of Kidney Diseases (2013).
5. Lorig, K. R., Sobel, D. S., Stewart, A. L., Brown Jr, B. W., Bandura, A., Ritter, P. & Holman, H. R. (1999). Evidence suggesting that a chronic disease self-management program can improve health status while reducing hospitalization: a randomized trial. Medical care, 37(1), 5.
6. Brian W. Jack, MD, Veerappa K. Chetty, PhD, David Anthony, MD, MSc, et al, “A Reengineered Hospital Discharge Program to Decrease Rehospitalization,” Annals of Internal Medicine 150(3), Feb. 3, 2009, pp. 178-187