Effectiveness of a Virtual Intervention for Professionals to Improve Their Attitudes Towards Patient Empowerment.

Effectiveness of a Virtual Intervention (CoP) for Professionals to Improve Their Attitude Towards the Empowerment of Patients With Chronic Disease: Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial (eMPODERA Project)

The eMPODERA study aims to assess the effectiveness of a Community of Practice (CdP) virtual in improving attitudes of primary care professionals on the empowerment of patients with chronic diseases.

Main Objective: to assess the effectiveness of a Community of Practice (CdP) virtual in improving attitudes of health professionals in primary care on the empowerment of patients with chronic diseases.

Methodology:

Design: cluster randomised controlled.

Scope: primary care centers (PCC) belonging to the Regions of Catalonia, Madrid and Canary Islands.

Population: primary care health professionals (family doctors and nurses).

Sample size: 270 healthcare professionals and 1382 patients.

Randomization: Randomization unit: PCC; unit of analysis: primary care health professionals. 9 pairs of PCC by region will be randomly selected and randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Randomization will be performed after the selection of professionals and patients.

Intervention: the intervention group will be offered participation for 12 months in a virtual CdP based on a web 2.0 platform. The control group will receive usual training.

Measurements: the primary outcome will be measured by Patient-Provider Orientation Scale (PPOS) questionnaire at baseline and 12 months. Secondary outcomes: sociodemographic of professionals; sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients; Patient Activation Measure (PAM) questionnaire for patient activation; outcomes regarding use of the CdP.

Analysis: A linear mixed-effects regression to estimate the effect of participating in the CdP will be estimated. Additionally, an analysis of how the CdP is functioning through techniques of social network analysis and control charts will be performed.

Inclusion Criteria:

Clusters:

• Primary Care Centres (PCC) with Electronic Record system with more than 1 year of implementation
• PCC belongs to the Automonous Comunities of Canary Island, Catalonia and Madrid

Healthcare professionals:

• Acceptance to participate
• stable contract with the Primary care centre
• Physician or Nurses

Exclusion Criteria:

Clusters:

- Primary Care Centres where its directors do not accept to participate in the trial

Healthcare professionals:

• Students
• Medical and Nursing residents