RubiN - continuous care in regional networks: a study protocol for a prospective controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Healthcare Management
• Public Health

Background:

• Geriatric patients often face complex, multifaceted health and social care needs.
• Gaps in cross-sectoral and interprofessional healthcare lead to insufficient care for older adults.
• A holistic approach is crucial for evaluating health risks and preserving health in geriatric patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the effects of multi-professional, cross-sectoral, and assessment-based case management on geriatric patient care quality.
• To determine if geriatric case management improves patient outcomes compared to standard healthcare.
• To collect data on the impact of case management on general practitioner (GP) practices, case managers, patients, and relatives, alongside a health economic analysis.

Main Methods:

• Prospective controlled study comparing geriatric patients (≥70 years) with care requirements in two complexes.
• Intervention group (3200 patients) received geriatric case management; control group (1200 patients) received standard care.
• Primary endpoint: activities of daily living (Barthel Index) assessed over 12 months; intention-to-treat analysis.

Main Results:

• The study is designed to compare the effectiveness of geriatric case management against standard care.
• Analysis will include primary data on daily living activities and secondary health economic data.
• Questionnaires and expert interviews will assess impacts on GP practices and participant satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary geriatric case management shows promise for improving care for older adults.
• This study represents a large-scale evaluation of geriatric case management's effects.
• Findings aim to support widespread implementation of effective geriatric care models.