Funded by: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS PI15/00566)

Grant Awarded: €26,620.00

Duration: 3 years (2016-2018)

Principal Investigator: Lilisbeth Perestelo Pérez

Associated Researchers: Jeanette Pérez Ramos, Tamania del Pino Sedeño, Ana Toledo Chávarri, Jose Ramón Vázquez Díaz, Armando Aguirre Jaime, France Légaré

Main Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a Virtual Community of Practice (CdPV) in improving the attitudes of primary care (PC) professionals towards the empowerment of patients with chronic diseases.

Methodology:

Design: Pragmatic, cluster-randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Primary care centers (CAP) in the Autonomous Communities (CC.AA.) of Catalonia, Madrid, and Canary Islands.

Population: Primary care healthcare professionals (family doctors and nurses).

Sample Size: 270 healthcare professionals and 1382 patients.

Randomization: Randomization unit: health centers; analysis unit: primary care professionals. 9 pairs of CAP will be randomly selected per CC.AA. and assigned either to the intervention group or the control group. Randomization will occur after the selection of professionals and patients.

Intervention: The intervention group will participate for 12 months in a CdPV based on a web 2.0 platform. The control group will receive usual training.

Measurements: The primary outcome will be measured using the PPOS questionnaire at baseline and at 12 months. Secondary outcomes: sociodemographic data of professionals; sociodemographic and clinical data of patients served; the PAM questionnaire for patient activation; variables related to the use of the CdPV.

Analysis: A mixed-effects linear regression model will be used to estimate the effect of participating in the CdPV. Additionally, the functionality of the CdPV will be analyzed using Social Network Analysis techniques and Control Charts.

Contact Person: Lilisbeth Perestelo Pérez (lperperr@gobiernodecanarias.org)