Profiling Patients' Healthcare Needs to Support Integrated, Person-Centered Models for Long-Term Disease Management (Profile): Research Design.
BACKGROUND
This article presents the design of PROFILe, a study investigating which (bio)medical and non-(bio)medical patient characteristics should guide more tailored chronic care. Based on this insight, the project aims to develop and validate 'patient profiles' that can be used in practice to determine optimal treatment strategies for subgroups of chronically ill with similar healthcare needs and preferences.


METHODS
PROFILe is a practice-based research comprising four phases. The project focuses on patients with type 2 diabetes. During the first study phase, patient profiles are drafted based on a systematic literature research, latent class growth modeling, and expert collaboration. In phase 2, the profiles are validated from a clinical, patient-related and statistical perspective. Phase 3 involves a discrete choice experiment to gain insight into the patient preferences that exist per profile. In phase 4, the results from all analyses are integrated and recommendations formulated on which patient characteristics should guide tailored chronic care.


CONCLUSIONS
PROFILe is an innovative study which uses a uniquely holistic approach to assess the healthcare needs and preferences of chronically ill. The patient profiles resulting from this project must be tested in practice to investigate the effects of tailored management on patient experience, population health and costs.
Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Duboisdomein 30, PO Box 616, 6200MD, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Arianne Mj
AM
Elissen
Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Duboisdomein 30, PO Box 616, 6200MD, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Dorijn Fl
DF
Hertroijs
Department of Internal Medicine, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Medical Centre, PO Box 5800, 6202AZ, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Nicolaas C
NC
Schaper
Department of Patient and Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands & Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, National University Health System, 1E Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119228, Singapore.
Hubertus Jm
HJ
Vrijhoef
Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Duboisdomein 30, PO Box 616, 6200MD, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
Dirk
D
Ruwaard
Triple Aim; disease management; patient profiles; study design; tailored care; type 2 diabetes