JACARDI

Link to website: https://jacardi.eu/

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Project description

Background

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of death in the European Union (EU), since they affect approximately 63 million people. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has also increased significantly, as the number of adults living with the disease nearly doubled over the past decade reaching 32.3 million in 2019. These chronic diseases pose a major threat to individual health and well-being, while also burdening the healthcare systems and hindering social and economic development.

The aim of Joint Action on Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes (JACARDI) is to reduce the burden of these diseases in EU countries – at both individual and social levels. It is designed to bring together proven best practices or (cost-)effective measures among countries and regions through transnational pilot initiatives, complementing and reinforcing existing policies and programmes. It comprises the entire patient experience: from improving health literacy and awareness of CVD/DM, data collection and its meaningful use and availability, screening and primary prevention among high-risk populations to the patient’s pathway through the healthcare system (establishing contact with people living with CVD/DM and their care providers), improving access to services, self-management, and participation in the labour market. Joint Action also addresses cross-cutting and intersecting issues such as promoting equality in health, social, cultural, and ethnic diversity, and above all, developing practices and measures whose impact will not fade away after JACARDI ends, but whose results will be embedded in countries’ health systems and policies. The project will strengthen transnational cooperation, maximise the use of experience gained through a clear strategy, involve stakeholders and promote sustainable approaches to achieving high-level goals, including through effective cooperation and co-creation between science and politics.

Purpose of the project

• To reduce the burden of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at societal and individual levels.
• To improve the countries’ capacities to translate theoretical knowledge into practical implementation, taking into account the characteristics of good practices.

Project objectives

JACARDI will test and offer solutions for the entire patient pathway, including prevention, early detection, treatment, care and self-care, in order to achieve the following objectives:

• Increasing health literacy and awareness on cardiovascular diseases and diabetes among population.
• Implementing effective primary prevention measures, screening examinations and improved care pathways for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in high-risk population groups.
• Strengthening support for self-care and participation in the labour market for people diagnosed with cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
• Improving the availability, quality and accessibility of data throughout the patient pathway.
• Promoting equality in access to healthcare services and information, and ensuring equal opportunities for all, regardless of language skills, abilities, age or life situation.

Phases of the project and their realisation

JACARDI comprises 11 work packages and 143 pilot projects covering six working areas: health literacy, data collection and use, screening, patient pathway, self-management and inclusion of people with chronic diseases into working environment.

First year of the project: Development of a uniform methodology for the implementation of pilot projects, including the development of their sustainability at the level of the entire consortium. Establishment of teams and teamwork in pilot environments, situation analysis, setting of objectives and implementation plan.

Second year of the project: Implementation in pilot environments according to the plan, interim evaluation and correction of the plan. At the consortium level, supporting capacity building.

Third year of the project: Implementation in pilot environments according to upgraded plans, final evaluation and preparations for the process that will ensure the sustainability of results in line with capacity development.

Fourth years of the project: Leading the process of preparing action plans for sustainability and intensive communication with key stakeholders in pilot environments. Supporting sustainability, intensive communication, and reporting.

Added value

1. Analysis of root causes and development and testing of interventions that (a) improve the detection of undiagnosed type 2 diabetes and intermediate hyperglycaemia, and (b) improve both the assessment of cardiovascular risk in individuals with intermediary hyperglycaemia and their care.
2. Analysis of root causes and development and testing of intervention to increase the number of people with intermediate hyperglycaemia or type 2 diabetes treated in family medicine teams who would participate in appropriate educational programme in health promotion centres.
3. Establishment of conditions to increase the number of people with diabetes who regularly attend eye fundus screening examinations at diabetic retinopathy centres.
4. Development and evaluation of a structurally and conceptually systematised health education intervention in the outpatient cardiovascular rehabilitation programme following an acute coronary event for all centres already implementing it, including capacity building.
5. Strengthening the competences and capacities of NIJZ in the field of promoting the introduction of quality practices in healthcare, including through and established network within (regional units) and without NIJZ (FDV, ZF, KDM, networking of experts).

Expected results and materials

• (a) tools and approaches to improve the identification of individuals with type 2 diabetes and intermediate hypoglycaemia through community activation, and (b) approaches to improve the assessments of cardiovascular risk in individuals with intermediate hyperglycaemia through the proposal of appropriate intervention. Reach: 350,000 inhabitants.
• Materials for individuals and healthcare professionals, as well as tools and approaches for increasing the involvement of individuals with intermediate hyperglycaemia or type 2 diabetes who are treated by a family medicine team in appropriate educational programmes at health promotion centres, and the development of a set of recommendation at the micro, mezo, and macro levels. Reach: 450 healthcare professionals and patients.
• Situation analysis to ensure the inclusion of people with diabetes in diabetic retinopathy centres to provide support in the preparation of systemic measures and the development of a set of recommendations at the micro, mezzo and macro levels. Reach: 300 healthcare professionals.
• Uniform, comprehensive and integrated health education materials, tools and approaches for service providers and individuals who have experienced an acute coronary event and have been referred to an outpatient cardiovascular rehabilitation programme, as well as support in developing a strategic approach to cardiovascular disease. Reach: 500 patients.
• Materials, tools and approaches for developing and implementing quality practices in healthcare, as well as a qualified and experienced multidisciplinary team.
• Improvement of the overall capacity of Member States to plan and implement policies and activities in the field of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at national, regional and local levels.

Duration of the project: From November 1 2023 until October 31 2027.

Leading organisation: ISTITUTO SUPERIORE DI SANITA (ISS), Italy.

Project partners: The initiative comprises 21 European countries, including Ukraine, 76 partners and over 300 public health experts.

Funding: The project is co-funded by the Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Health, and the European Union from the Health Programme of the European Union in the framework of the Grant Agreement no. 101126953.

Disclaimer

Views and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.