Overview
The purpose of this study is to evaluate a newly developed virtual care program for older adults with chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes and lipid disorders) whether it is feasible and economical to implement in the Malaysian primary healthcare settings. We hypothesize that the use of this virtual care program (TeleCOOP-NCD©) will be more cost-effective (lower total costs per benefits gained) compared to the usual onsite care at the clinic for older adults who have stable chronic diseases. We also hypothesize that there is no significant difference in control of clinical parameters compared to usual care. Researchers will compare the primary outcomes such as patient satisfaction, health-related quality of life, provider cost and patient cost between the intervention and control group. Researchers will also check participant recruitment rate, participant retention rate and clinical parameters (including blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, fasting blood glucose, fasting serum lipids) as secondary outcomes. Eligible participants will receive either virtual care program (intervention) or usual care (regular in-person visits) at a primary care clinic, called the Klinik Primer of Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (KP-HCTM), in Bandar Seri Permaisuri, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Researchers will do outcome assessments at baseline, 3 months and 6 months respectively.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients with the age of 60 years and above;
- Patients who are literate in either Malay or English language;
- Patients who are not frail or mildly frail (with the scores of 0-8 in the Pictorial Fit-Frail Scale assessment);
- Patients who are receiving treatment for hypertension, diabetes and/or dyslipidemia (any of the three NCDs); and
- Patients who have internet access and know how to operate a smartphone/device or are able to receive assistance for its use from their family members or caregivers.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients who are completely transferred out from the Klinik Primer or Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM);
- Patients who are newly referred to the clinic and attending their first visit;
- Patients who visit the clinic for teaching sessions or non-doctor consultations (allied health, procedures, or prescription refill).
