Chronic disease is responsible for most disease and deaths in Ireland and accounts for the use of 70% of health service resources. Consequently, the Irish health service has recently made significant strides to better manage chronic disease, with for instance, the introduction of the Integrated Care Programme that targets heart disease, respiratory conditions and diabetes. However, chronic diseases such as neurological, rheumatological and mental health conditions which are also leading causes of death and disability are not currently supported by this programme. Senior decision makers in the Irish health service are now seeking to improve and expand care for these conditions in Ireland. However, the evidence to inform this decision making is sparse.
Methods
During our stakeholder engagement in preparation of this application, senior decision makers in the Irish health service prioritised the need for evidence to support improvements in models of care for neurological, rheumatological, and mental health conditions in Ireland. The aim of Future-Proof is to co-produce options for future models of care aimed at the management of these conditions in Ireland by:
examining prevalence and hospitalisation impacts of neurological, rheumatological and mental health conditions using systematic reviews or secondary data analysis, as appropriate
examining evidence on effective models of care for the management of the these conditions, and assess and describe the current models of care in Ireland and comparable countries
co-producing options for future models of care aimed at their management through an integrated knowledge translation plan with knowledge users and PPI partners.
Impact Through a partnership of 21 academics and knowledge users in the health service and a 10-person PPI partner panel, this study will co-produce options on evidence-based models of care that can be implemented to improve the management of neurological, rheumatological and mental health conditions in Ireland.
