Community- and mHealth-Based Integrated Management of Diabetes in Primary Healthcare in Rwanda
D²Rwanda
1 other identifier
interventional
209
1 country
9
Brief Summary
The Home Based Care Practitioners (HBCPs) programme has been established by the Rwandan Ministry of Health in response to the shortage of health professionals. Currently in its pilot first phase, it entails laypeople providing longitudinal care to chronic patients after receiving a six-month training.The diabetes mellitus (DM) prevalence in Rwanda is estimated at 3.5%. Technological mobile solutions can improve care by enabling patients to self-manage their disease. It is hypothesised that the establishment of the HBCP programme with regular monthly assessments of DM patients and disease management by the programme's HBCPs improves the patients' HbA1c levels, medication adherence, health-related quality of life, mental well-being, and health literacy levels. It is also hypothesised that patients will show further improvement when the HBCP programme is coupled with a mobile health application for patients that includes diaries, notifications and educational material. The aim of the study is to determine the efficacy of such an integrated programme for the management of DM in primary health care in Rwanda. Study design: The study is designed as a one-year, open-label cluster trial of two interventions (intervention 1: HBCP programme; intervention 2: HBCP programme + mobile health application) and usual care (control). In preparation for the onset of the study, a mobile application is being developed. Focus discussion groups will be carried out with selected patients and HBCPs after the end of the main trial to explore their opinions in participating in the study. Study population: District hospitals from those running the HBCP programme will be selected according to criteria. Under each district hospital, the administrative areas ("cells") participating in the HBCP programme will be randomised to receive intervention 1 or 2. The patients from each group who meet the eligibility criteria of the study will receive the same intervention. Cells that do not participate in HBCP programme will be assigned to the control group. Study endpoints: The primary outcomes will be changes in HbA1c levels. Medication adherence, mortality, complications, health-related quality of life, mental well-being and health literacy will be assessed as secondary outcomes. Sponsor: The D²Rwanda project has received financial support by the Karen Elise Jensens Fond (Denmark), and the Universities of Aarhus and Luxembourg.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P50-P75 for not_applicable diabetes-mellitus
Started Jan 2019
Typical duration for not_applicable diabetes-mellitus
9 active sites
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
December 6, 2017
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
December 18, 2017
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
January 11, 2019
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
December 18, 2020
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
December 31, 2021
CompletedFebruary 21, 2021
June 1, 2020
1.9 years
December 6, 2017
February 18, 2021
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Change in HbA1c
Change from baseline to 12-month follow-up
Secondary Outcomes (26)
Change in medication adherence
Change from baseline to 6- and 12-month follow-up
Number of dropouts of the NCD clinics of the district hospitals
From baseline to 12-month follow-up
Number of lost appointments to the NCD clinics of the district hospitals
From baseline to 12-month follow-up
Mortality
From baseline to 12-month follow-up
Number of complications
From baseline to 12-month follow-up
- +21 more secondary outcomes
Other Outcomes (10)
Patients' challenges receiving care
On trial completion (approximately after 12 months)
Patients understanding of diabetes' natural history
On trial completion (approximately after 12 months)
How the patients' disease-related decision-making is influence
On trial completion (approximately after 12 months)
- +7 more other outcomes
Study Arms (3)
Intervention group 1
EXPERIMENTALIntervention group 1 will receive access to the newly-established HBCP programme.
Intervention group 2
EXPERIMENTALIntervention group 2 will receive access to the newly-established HBCP programme, and facilitated access to a mobile health application.
Control group
NO INTERVENTIONThe control group will receive routine practice.
Interventions
The newly-established Home-Based Community Practitioners (HBCPs) programme will enable frontline workers to offer monthly health assessments, disease management and lifestyle advice to diabetic patients, and referral to the district hospitals when needed.
HBCPs will actively encourage the use of a mobile app by assisting patients to access it (this process is known as "facilitated access"). The app will enable: (i) the registration of measurements, such as blood glucose and weight; (ii) the registration of concerns and questions in a diary; (iii) the reception of alerts and notifications for the appointments to the health facilities, and; (iv) access to advice on lifestyle improvement and other patient educational material.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Adult patients (male and female) aged between 21 and 80 years
- Diagnosed and confirmed as diabetic patient at least 6 months prior to study start
- Living in the administrative areas (called "cells") of the district hospitals participating in the first phase of the HBCP programme
- Residing, and planning to reside within a 2-hour travel distance on foot from the study site for the duration of follow-up
- Willing and able to adhere to the study protocol
- Willing and able to give informed consent for enrolment in the study
You may not qualify if:
- Severe mental health conditions, including cognitive impairments, as registered in their clinical records
- Severe hearing and visual impairments as registered in their clinical records
- Terminal illness
- Illiteracy
- Pregnancy or post-partum period
- Permanent residence in one of the cells of the study
- Willing and able to give informed consent for enrolment in the study
- \. Not capable of accomplishing questionnaires due to reading or communication problems
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
- University of Aarhuslead
- University of Luxembourgcollaborator
- Karen Elise Jensens Fondcollaborator
- University of Rwandacollaborator
- Rwanda Biomedical Centrecollaborator
- Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)collaborator
Study Sites (9)
Kibuye Referral Hospital
Kibuye, Karongi, Rwanda
Ruhengeri Provincial Hospital
Ruhengeri, Musanze, Rwanda
Kibungo Referral Hospital
Kibungo, Ngoma, Rwanda
Bushenge Provincial Hospital
Bushenge, Nyamasheke, Rwanda
Muhima District Hospital
Kigali, Nyarugenge, Rwanda
Ruhango Provincial Hospital
Kinazi, Ruhango, Rwanda
Kinihira Provincial Hospital
Kinihira, Rulindo, Rwanda
Kabutare District Hospital
Huye, Rwanda
Rwamagana Provincial Hospital
Rwamagana, Rwanda
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PMID: 31345971DERIVED
Related Links
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Per Kallestrup, MD, PhD
University of Aarhus
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Claus Vögele, DPsych, PhD
University of Luxembourg
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Jeanine Condo Umutesi, MD, MSc, PhD
Rwanda Biomedical Centre
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Conchitta D'Ambrosio, MSc, PhD
University of Luxembourg
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- PARALLEL
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
December 6, 2017
First Posted
December 18, 2017
Study Start
January 11, 2019
Primary Completion
December 18, 2020
Study Completion
December 31, 2021
Last Updated
February 21, 2021
Record last verified: 2020-06