Efficacy of German Disease Management Program Asthma and COPD - a cross sectional evaluation

Current available data regarding the efficacy of German Disease Management Programs (DMP) are only related to data which are entered into official documentations of health care providers or health care insurances. However, no data are available that evaluate the efficacy of DMP or education programs and no documentation show the patients perspective of the DMP.Therefore a cross-sectional trial in patients with Asthma (AB) and COPD, respectively, in 13 primary care practices and 26 specialist practices in Germany was performed. Patients took part in the DMP for > 1 year (DMP +) or took not part (DMP -). (AB: n=721 DMP+ / 317 DMP -; COPD: n=602 DMP+ / 244 DMP-).The assessment of used medication, exacerbation rate and missed days from work as well as measures of disease control (ACT / CAT), Health related quality of life (ACQ / CRQ), Fear- and Depression (HADS, FEAV) and social support (SSUK).DMP+ patients with asthma had at least a lower lung function (FEV1 2.68 (SD 0.87) L vs 2.89 (0.92) L.A greater part of all patients have been trained for their inhalation device (Asthma: 96.2%, COPD 94.5%).There is a small, but significant difference in ACT-scores in Asthma (ACT mean (SD) DMP+:20.9 (4.2), DMP-: 19.9 (4.6)), but not in CAT-scores in COPD (CAT 23.2 (8.1) vs 23.2(7.7)).No differences were shown DMP + and DMP – in asthma and COPD in the psychometric questionnaires.Although 60% of DMP+-patients took part in an educational program; however, no effects have been observed....
Source: European Respiratory Journal - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Rehabilitation and chronic care Source Type: research