Case management in long term conditions: an inconsistent journey?

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Chronic Disease Management
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Case management is a strategy used to manage patients with long-term conditions.
• UK healthcare services have explored case management approaches, often adapting US strategies.
• Understanding the effectiveness of case management in the UK context is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the existing evidence on the use and effectiveness of case management for long-term conditions in the UK.
• To synthesize findings from published literature, including studies adapted from the USA.
• To identify reported benefits and limitations of case management from patient and carer perspectives.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of published literature.
• Analysis of studies focusing on case management for long-term conditions in the UK.
• Inclusion of research that adapted or emulated strategies from the USA.

Main Results:

• A unified definition of case management was identified.
• Patients and their carers reported perceived benefits from being case managed.
• Significant heterogeneity in outcome measures across studies led to inconclusive evidence on effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• While patient and carer experiences suggest value, robust evidence for the effectiveness of case management in the UK is lacking.
• Variability in outcome measures hinders definitive conclusions about case management's impact on long-term conditions.
• Further research with standardized outcome measures is needed to clarify the effectiveness of case management.