CompletedNot Applicable

Effectiveness of the "7H" Intervention to Reduce Frequent Attendance in Primary Care

Spain527 participantsStarted 2010-01

Plain-language summary

The main objective is to measure the effectiveness of a new intervention to decrease use of services of primary care frequent attenders (FA).Among the secondary objectives are to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and cost utility of the new intervention compared with usual care. METHODS: There will be a randomized controlled trial with cluster assignment. It will take place in the field of primary care in the city of Malaga.It will be evaluated a new multicomponent intervention called "7H" (7 Hypothesis). This intervention will be applied on the FA by their family doctors in the intervention group. In the control group will be developed usual cares. The main outcome is the total of visits of FA at 12 months of the follow-up. The secondary outcomes include changes happened in biopsychosocial health, satisfaction, and quality of life measurements. The investigators will assess the dependent and independents (from FA, general practitioner \[GP\] and health centres) variables at baseline, and 12 months. At baseline it will be include a random sample of 450 FA (225 for each arm), belonging to 30 family doctors of 10 health centres. It will be performed linear regression multilevel models with 4 levels (time, patient, doctor and health centre) to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. . Moreover will be undertaken multivariate gamma and quantile regressions to assess the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility respectively of the new intervention versus usual cares, estimating their standard errors by bootstrap calculations.

Who can participate

Age range

14 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Frequent Attenders: 90th percentile of number of visits of the previous year, stratified by age and sex. Exclusion Criteria: * \< 14 years. * Unable to understand or speak Spanish. * Cognitive impairment. * Terminal illness. * Planning to be outside of the the city 3 or more months during the next 12 months.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Effectiveness of the intervention "7H"

Timeframe: 12 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT01151969

SponsorThe Mediterranean Institute for the Advance of Biotechnology and Health Research

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2013-02

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