We will test an NCD intervention bundle incorporating the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s Package for Essential Non-Communicable Disease Interventions (PEN) within an approximate population of 300,000 people in rural Nepal. This intervention integrates three evidence-based approaches for both facility- and community-based NCD care focused on the key areas of Clinical Practice, Counseling, and Technology for two tiers of non-physician healthcare worker - Mid-Level Providers and Community Health Workers: 1) Task-shifting of evidence-based medicine algorithms and clinical skills from PEN protocols to non-physician healthcare workers; 2) Delivering quality counseling based on the Motivational Interviewing Model to drive behavior change with respect to both treatment adherence (defined as medication adherence and follow-up completion) and risk factor modification (alcohol, tobacco, diet, physical activity); 3) Employing a facility- and community-based clinical decision support tool for effective integration of PEN protocols into non-physician healthcare worker workflow. This five-year study will initial test the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention (two years) followed by a type 2 hybrid effectiveness-implementation research trial (three years) to which we will apply the RE-AIM implementation evaluative framework of both outcomes and process indicators. Co-primary outcomes for the intervention bundle will be: a) disease-specific, evidence-based control metrics that measures clinical efficacy; b) qualitative evaluation of acceptability and feasibility that incorporates perspectives of patients, providers, and government stakeholders; and c) an implementation checklist of key intervention process measures.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
Masking
NONE
In the intervention includes the planned roll-out of the World Health Organization's Package of essential noncommunicable disease interventions (WHO PEN) for primary care in low resource settings by the Government of Nepal, Ministry of Health and Population. In addition, this intervention will include three evidence-based components: 1) non-communicable disease (NCD) care integration using mid-level practitioners (MLPs) and community healthcare workers (CHWs); 2) clinical decision support (CDS) tools to ensure quality care in accordance with best practices; and 3) training and supervision of MLPs to provide motivational interviewing (MI) techniques for modifiable risk factor optimization, with a specific focus on tobacco and alcohol use.
Bayalpata Hospital
Sanfebagar-10, Achham/Province 7, Nepal
Charikot Primary Health Center
Chari̇̄koṭ, Dolakha/Province 3, Nepal
Type II diabetes mellitus control measure
Percentage of enrolled type II diabetes patients achieving "at goal" status, at the completion of the study period (type II diabetes mellitus: Hemoglobin A1c \< 7.5 OR fasting blood sugar \<130 mg/dL)
Time frame: 24 months
Hypertension control measure
Percentage of enrolled hypertension patients achieving "at goal" status, at the completion of the study period (hypertension: blood pressure \<130/80mm Hg or patient-tailored goal per risk stratification)
Time frame: 24 months
COPD control measure
Percentage of enrolled COPD patients achieving "at goal" status, at the completion of the study period (COPD: exacerbation status ≤1/3 Anthonisen criteria)
Time frame: 24 months
Tobacco use
Percentage of enrolled NCD patients who were using tobacco at enrollment who are non-users or who have reduced by \>50% their tobacco intake, at the completion of the study period
Time frame: 24 months
Alcohol use
Percentage of enrolled NCD patients who were alcohol drinkers at enrollment who are non-drinkers or who have reduced by \>50% alcohol intake, at the completion of the study period
Time frame: 24 months
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