STARS EU, the strategic alliance for regional transition Europe, integrates a health care team system around patients with lower health literacy

In Europe, 48% of the population reveals limited health literacy, from 36% in the Netherlands to 63% in Bulgaria. Health literacy is defined as the ability to find, understand, and use health information and services to make informed decisions about one's health. Lower health literacy is more profound in the ageing population, lower education and socioeconomic status, and more prevalent in rural areas. Lower health literacy in patients is related to higher prevalence of chronic diseases, hospitalization, and doctor visits, resulting in stress on the healthcare system’s secondary and tertiary prevention programs in primary-, hospital-, and community-based care.

Normally, caregivers support patient’s self management by means of health apps. But these patients exhibit lower levels of digital skills as well as a need for an adapted integrated health care system that surrounds these patients throughout their patient journey from hospital to community care with unambiguous communication strategies. This integrated care needs specific attention.
An integrated health care environment comprises:

1 A digital information integration strategy towards patients with lower health literacy, that remains consistent across various healthcare providers encountered by these patients with the use of existing available apps and devices

2 A communication system that harmonizes person-centred communication strategies between health care providers in primary, hospital, and community-based care

3 Caregivers who are proficient in

a digital skills to effectively employ this ICT-system
b using a set of communication tools and strategies in supporting patients and family with lower health literacy

At this moment, patients with limited health and digital literacy do not receive tailored person-centred care. These patients need specific attention and an integrated health care environment.

This project aims to transform health and care systems towards a uniform system of integrated care that supports caregivers in their communication towards patients with lower health literacy (including their families or the communities in which patients live).

Currently we do not know if the implementation of integrated healthcare system (1-4) in patients with lower health literacy, who are using care in different institutes and in diverse caregivers, would increase patient satisfaction, patient outcomes and caregiver job satisfaction.

Aims to achieve

Sharing knowledge and best practices between different countries can enhance innovative solutions for an integrated healthcare system around patients with lower health literacy. The aim is to stimulate secondary and tertiary prevention in primary care, hospital care, and community-based care in patients with lower health and digital literacy.

Methods

1 Exploratory phase: An overview of best practices from different project partners within the consortium countries about
1a) Digital information integration strategies (e.g., existing apps and devices) and
1b) current communication systems. (month 0-6)
2 Developing phase: Adapting
2a. Digital information integration strategies;
2b. Communication systems;
2c Education caregivers (month 7-20)
3 Implementation and testing:
3a. Digital information integration strategies;
3b. Communication systems;
3c Education caregivers (month 21-36)
The results of this study will have an impact on the health of citizens with lower health literacy, relieve the pressure on health and care facilities in Europe, have an impact on job satisfaction of healthcare providers, skills development of care providers and digital skill innovation.
After implementing personalized prevention strategies in health and care services by means of care givers that are able to match apps and devices to the needs of a patients with lower health literacy, the results of this study will empower people to self-management. Health literacy affects patient’s health outcomes. Thus, this study will have an impact on inequity of care in rural areas. Additionally job satisfaction of caregivers will improve that might contribute to reduce the strain on the healthcare system.

Transforming health care by using blended care, that combines traditional face-to-face interactions with digital tools, person-centred care in person and remote elements are integrated and will stimulate secondary and tertiary prevention.