Computer assisted chronic disease management: does it work? A pilot study using mixed methods.

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• General Practice
• Chronic Disease Management

Background:

• Effective chronic disease management (CDM) relies on practical computer tools and professional development.
• General practice settings require efficient systems for managing patients with chronic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of cdmNet, a broadband-based computer tool, in enhancing care plan development for chronic disease patients.
• To evaluate the impact of a computer-assisted tool on chronic disease management within general practice.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining the breakthrough series methodology (workshops, plan-do-study-act cycles) with semistructured interviews.
• Intervention involving general practitioners (GPs) and their practice teams using the cdmNet tool.

Main Results:

• GP use of cdmNet initially increased then plateaued; practice nurses and managers became more involved.
• Varied GP adoption of cdmNet, ranging from no change to significant use in developing general practice management plans (GPMPs).
• Key factors influencing adoption included time for software familiarization and recognizing the benefits of a team-based approach.

Conclusions:

• The breakthrough series methodology effectively facilitated upskilling GPs in managing chronic diseases.
• GPs learned to utilize the broadband-based cdmNet service, improving chronic disease patient care plan development.
• Team involvement and adequate training time are crucial for the successful implementation of new clinical management tools.