BRIGHT

Projektname
Building Research Initiative Group: Chronic illness management and adherence in Transplantation

Projektleitung
Sabina De Geest
Fabienne Dobbels
Cindy L. Russell

INS-Projektteam
Sabina De Geest
Kris Denhaerynck
Juliane Mielke

Externe Projektpartner
Mitglieder des BRIGHT study consortiums

Ort der Datenerhebung
– 36 Herztransplationszentren in 11 Ländern (des BRIGHT study consortiums)

Laufzeit
2012 bis fortlaufend

Projektbeschreibung
Hintergrund
Interventional pathways to improve long term outcomes after heart transplantation (HTx) will be dependent on better understanding of multilevel determinants of health behaviors and practice patterns related to chronic illness management in HTx. The BRIGHT study is an unique intercontinental study in 11 countries, 36 HTx centers and 1397 patients to assess the variability in practice patterns in HTx long term follow-up as well as the prevalence, geographical variability as well as correlates of non-adherence to health behaviors. The BRIGHT study assesses multilevel factors (patient, health care provider/family, transplant center, health policy/health care system) and practice patterns of chronic illness management in HTx which represent an innovative approach to unravel HTx follow up care.

Zielsetzung
1. To describe chronic illness management practice patterns among centers, countries, and continents in heart transplantation.
2. To assess the prevalence and variability of non-adherence to treatment regimens, i.e. medication taking, smoking cessation, diet keeping, alcohol consumption, physical activity, sun protection, and appointment keeping in heart transplant recipients among centers, countries, and continents.
3. To determine which multi-level factors are related to immunosuppressive medication adherence at the patient, provide, health care organization and health care system level
To benchmark participating centers, countries, and continents in relation to chronic illness management practice patterns and non-adherence to health behaviors.
Several secondary data analysis projects have been conducted or are underway.

Design/Methode
The study used a cross-sectional survey design in 36 heart transplant centers covering 11 countries in 4 continents. It used 4 questionnaires; 1 for the director of each heart transplant center, 1 for the clinicians at each center, and 2 for each heart transplant recipient (interview and self-administered), in addition to collecting clinical information on each heart transplant recipient and a collateral report by the clinicians on patients’ medication adherence.
Several secondary data analysis projects have been conducted or are underway.

Erwarteter Nutzen / Relevanz
The BRIGHT study’s findings will provide indication for leverage points to develop behavioral and care system interventional pathways to improve long term outcomes after HTx