Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Chronic Stress Shifts Effort-Related Choice Behavior in a Y-Maze Barrier Task in Mice
Published on: August 13, 2020
Pushing chronic care forward in Abu Dhabi by identifying priorities and addressing barriers: a modified Delphi
Marília Silva Paulo1,2, Tom Loney3, Luis V Lapão1
1Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
Objective:
This study aimed to elucidate the top five key priorities and barriers to chronic care in the health system of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Design:
A modified Delphi study was performed to reach consensus on priority areas and barriers to the development of the Chronic Care Model in the health system of Abu Dhabi. Individual wireless audience response devices (keypads) linked to a computer were used to reduce 28 priorities and 20 barriers to the top five during three iterative rounds over three consecutive days.
Setting:
Chronic care services for patients with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer, in both private and publicly funded healthcare services in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Participants:
A purposive sample of 20 health systems' experts were recruited. They were front-line healthcare workers from the public and private sector working in the delivery of care for patients with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
Results:
The 'overall organizational leadership in chronic illness care' was ranked as the most important priority to address (26.3%) and 'patient compliance' was ranked as the most important barrier (36.8%) to the development of the Chronic Care Model.
Conclusions:
This study has identified the current priorities and barriers to improving chronic care within Abu Dhabi's healthcare system. Our paper addresses the UAE's 2021 Agenda of achieving a world-class healthcare system, and findings may help inform strategic changes required to achieve this mission.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care
Assessment:
Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care
Strategies for Assessing and Addressing Confounding
Confounding can be addressed at both the design phase of a study and through analytical methods after data...
Drive-Reduction Theory: Push Theory of Motivation
Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution...
Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...

