Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 31, 2025
Author Spotlight: Self-Assessment Protocol for Predicting Psoriatic Arthritis in Psoriasis Patients
Published on: March 1, 2024
ABC-tool reinvented: development of a disease-specific 'Assessment of Burden of Chronic Conditions (ABCC)-tool' for
Esther A Boudewijns1, Danny Claessens2, Onno C P van Schayck2
1Department of Family Medicine, Care and Public Health Research Institute (CAPHRI), Maastricht University, P.O. Box 616, 6200, MD, Maastricht, the Netherlands. esther.boudewijns@maastrichtuniversity.nl.
Insights
The Assessment of Burden of Chronic Conditions (ABCC)-tool integrates multiple chronic conditions like COPD, asthma, and diabetes, improving patient self-management and shared decision-making. This tool offers a comprehensive approach for multimorbidity care.
Area of Science:
- Multimorbidity research
- Patient-reported outcomes
- Digital health tools
Background:
- Existing patient-reported outcome tools often focus on single conditions, which is insufficient for multimorbidity.
- Multimorbidity is increasing, necessitating comprehensive assessment tools.
- Current tools may not adequately support shared decision-making or self-management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To adapt the Assessment of Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (ABC)-tool into the Assessment of Burden of Chronic Conditions (ABCC)-tool.
- To include COPD, asthma, and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) within the ABCC-tool.
- To develop a tool that facilitates shared decision-making and stimulates self-management.
Main Methods:
- Formulated requirements for the new tool.
- Developed questionnaires based on literature, guidelines, patient/provider interviews, and expert input.
- Determined cut-off points and treatment advice for practical recommendations.
Main Results:
- The ABCC-tool features a generic and disease-specific questionnaire, combinable into an individualized patient assessment.
- Results are visualized in a balloon chart.
- Each domain provides practical recommendations for patients and providers.
Conclusions:
- The ABCC-tool is expected to enhance patient-provider communication.
- It will aid in formulating personalized treatment and care plans with specific goals.
- The integrated approach makes the tool applicable to diverse disease combinations and clinical settings.
Background:
Numerous instruments have been developed to assess patient reported outcomes; most approaches however focus on a single condition. With the increasing prevalence of multimorbidity, this might no longer be appropriate. Moreover, a more comprehensive approach that facilitates shared decision making and stimulates self-management is most likely more valuable for clinical practice than a questionnaire alone. This study aims to transform the Assessment of Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) (ABC)-tool into the Assessment of Burden of Chronic Conditions (ABCC)-tool for COPD, asthma, and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). The tool consists of a scale, a visualisation of the outcomes, and treatment advice.
Methods:
Requirements for the tool were formulated. Questionnaires were developed based on a literature study of existing questionnaires, clinical guidelines, interviews with patients and healthcare providers, and input from an expert group. Cut-off points and treatment advice were determined to display the results and to provide practical recommendations.
Results:
The ABCC-scale consists of a generic questionnaire and disease-specific questionnaires, which can be combined into a single individualized questionnaire for each patient. Results are displayed in one balloon chart, and each domain includes practical recommendations.
Conclusions:
The ABCC-tool is expected to facilitate conversations between a patient and a healthcare provider, and to help formulate treatment plans and care plans with personalised goals. By facilitating an integrated approach, this instrument can be applied in a variety of circumstances and disease combinations.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:22Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
01:23Assessment of the Cardiovascular System I: Subjective Data
Initial Enquiry
Ask the patient about their primary concern and thoroughly explore all reported symptoms.
Medical History
Investigate past illnesses affecting the cardiovascular system, such as angina, anemia, rheumatic fever, congenital heart disease, stroke, thrombophlebitis, dysrhythmias, varicosities
Inquire about symptoms...
01:29Nursing Assessment
The nurse collects all aspects of the patient's health in the initial assessment, establishing priorities for ongoing focused assessments...
01:30Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Nursing Management
Assessment