Primary Health Care System
RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER

Applied Health Research Questions

Impact of a Chronic Disease Self-Management Program on the Healthcare Utilization in Eastern Ontario
Principal investigator/co-investigators:
Dr. Clare Liddy, MD, Bruyère Research Institute, University of Ottawa
Dr. Sharon Johnston, MD, Bruyère Research Institute, University of Ottawa
Susan Jaglal, PhD, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, University of Toronto
Knowledge User(s) involved:
Ms. Karen Patzer, Senior Planning & Engagement Specialist, Lead Diabetes, Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN)

Abstract:
The increasing incidence of chronic disease is placing a growing burden on health care systems worldwide. Self-management support programs, many of which have been successful in the United States (Stanford CDSMP) and the United Kingdom (Expert Patient Program), may play a key role in reducing the burden of disease at the system level. In the Champlain Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) region of Eastern Ontario we have broadly implemented the Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management (CDSM) program and as part of an early comprehensive evaluation, we collected individual level participant data. Through this study we now seek to examine the effectiveness of the program from the perspective of the impact on health care utilization. This is being done through linkages of individual level participant data to health administrative databases housed at ICES. We are examining patterns of health care utilization, including nature and number of physician visits, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations, one year prior to and after participation in the self-management program. It is expected that we will be able to demonstrate a reduction in emergency department visits and hospitalization in the participant group.

Key Messages: (preliminary)
In Canada, as well as abroad, Ministries responsible for the Health of their people are trying to identify promising ways to improve care and reduce costs. Self-management support programs, many of which have been successful in the United States (Stanford CDSMP) and the United Kingdom (Expert Patient Program), may play a key role in reducing the burden of disease at all system levels. While many provincial governments are funding the delivery of self-management support programs to support patients in managing multiple and complex chronic conditions, there exists little evidence of the impact such programming has on the health services use of those who participate. Determining the impact self-management support programs may have on health services use of patients with chronic conditions will help policy and decision makers make informed choices about interventions to increase appropriate and decrease inappropriate health services use.

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