Integrated Depression Care Project

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a multi-faceted approach called the Integrated DEpression CAre (IDECA) Programme to improve how depression is managed across different healthcare levels. The study focuses on enhancing guideline adherence and shared care practices for patients with mild to severe depression. This project uses the WHO Framework on Integrated People-Centred Health Services to guide its strategies and is led by University Ghent. The intervention includes developing a shared care protocol involving primary, secondary, and tertiary care providers. It provides training modules for physicians and case managers, a patient education program for self-managing depression, and a financing model to support integrated care. The intervention is applied in primary care settings, including case management at general practitioners' offices with education on depression and population health management. Participants will be monitored over several months with assessments of depression severity, anxiety levels, medication adherence, self-efficacy, resource use, quality of life, and health literacy. The primary outcome is how well the intervention is integrated after 14 months. The study involves regular evaluations and aims to understand the impact of integrated care on depression management over a year.

Integrated Depression Care