Implementation of a value-based approach for older people who have suffered an acute myocardial infarction: study protocol

Front Public Health. 2025 Jan 3:12:1518469. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1518469. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Introduction: Due to the rapid aging of the global population, new approaches are required to improve the quality of life of older people and to reduce healthcare system expenditures. One of the approaches that can be used is value-based healthcare. This article describes a value-based solution for older people who have suffered a myocardial infarction.

Methods: This solution combines the work of healthcare professionals and informal caregivers and the use of modern and user-friendly technologies to support the achievement of patients' values. Patients older than 65 years who have suffered a myocardial infarction will be divided into control and intervention groups within a pre-post-controlled design research study. Members of the intervention group will be provided with a personalized plan developed by healthcare professionals and based on the results from the baseline questionnaire.

Discussion: Two ValueCare digital solution components will be developed: a mobile application for the participants and a web platform for the professionals, researchers, and informal caregivers. Together with smartwatches, which will track important health aspects, and applications, this approach would enable older people to improve their health through correct lifestyle choices and their professional and informal caregivers to track their progress. With the use of the described technology and the multidisciplinary approach, the unmet needs and values of participants could be achieved. Using this approach, it could be possible to reduce overall healthcare expenses through the active involvement of both older people and their informal caregivers through a shared decision-making process with healthcare professionals.

Clinical trial registration: The ISRCTN registry number is 25089186. The date of trial registration is 16/11/2021.

Keywords: decision making; elderly; health care professionals; myocardial infarction; shared; value-based health care.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial Protocol

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Caregivers
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mobile Applications
  • Myocardial Infarction*
  • Quality of Life*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This study received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program under Grant Agreement No. 875215. The study does not necessarily reflect the Commission’s views and in no way anticipates the Commission’s future policy in this area. Part of this research was also funded with the financial support of the University of Rijeka through the project “Improvement of the control of polypharmacy and adherence to the prescribed therapy of chronic diseases by using information-communication technologies” (project number uniri-biomed-18-227).