Health experts from the University of Birmingham are developing a digital blueprint to improve the care of people with multiple long-term conditions (MLTC) in Sri Lanka.
Using electronic patient record systems in primary care centres the project will create digitally integrated care pathway (DICP), which will help to to standardise care and improve the patient experience using digital technologies.
Backed by £3.8 million funding from the UK’s NIHR (National Institute for Health and Care Research) the research programme will see Birmingham experts work with counterparts from the University of Jaffna, Colombo, Kelaniya and Sabaragamuwa in Sri Lanka to create and pilot the DICP.
This project represents a significant step forward in our efforts to harness digital technologies to improve healthcare delivery in resource-limited settings. We are excited to work with our partners in Sri Lanka to develop solutions that can make a real difference in the lives of patients with multiple long-term conditions.
Professor Krishnarajah Nirantharakumar – University of Birmingham
The DIGIPATHS Study will use advanced digital technologies to create a comprehensive care pathway for managing combinations of conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and mental health issues.
Professor Krishnarajah Nirantharakumar, from the University of Birmingham and the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, commented: “This project represents a significant step forward in our efforts to harness digital technologies to improve healthcare delivery in resource-limited settings. We are excited to work with our partners in Sri Lanka to develop solutions that can make a real difference in the lives of patients with multiple long-term conditions.”
MLTCs, where a person has two or more ongoing health issues, are becoming more common worldwide – partly because people are living longer and adopting unhealthy lifestyles.
Dr Kumaran Subaschandran, from the University of Jaffna, commented: “The DIGIPATHS Study is a testament to the power of international collaboration in addressing global health challenges. By bringing together diverse expertise and perspectives, we aim to create a sustainable model for managing long-term conditions that can be adapted and scaled across different contexts.”
The research project has several parts which will lead to the development and evaluation of the DICP:
• Patients, doctors, and policymakers will work together to help create the DICP – making sure it meets the needs of patients and healthcare providers and can be used across the country.
• Experts will analyse current healthcare pathways in Sri Lanka and get input from local patients and healthcare professionals to make improvements – choosing the best guidelines for care of people with MLTCs.
• The DICP will connect to an electronic patient record system called OpenMRS and include digital guidelines for doctors, a digital referral system, automated feedback to clinicians, and a digital interface for patients to access their health information.
• Researchers will test the DICP in 50 primary care centres using a special study called a cluster randomised controlled trial – checking whether the system is worth using in other parts of the country.
• The project will train and support a group of local experts to lead the use of the DICP.
Recent research in Sri Lanka shows that 32% of people aged 50 or older had MLTCs, increasing to 46% when additional conditions were considered. Heart, metabolic, and kidney problems were common, as were depression and anxiety.