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Advances in Therapy
Published in: Advances in Therapy 12/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Care | Review

A Narrative Review of the Patient Journey Through the Lens of Non-communicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Authors: Ratna Devi, Komal Kanitkar, R. Narendhar, Kawaldip Sehmi, Kannan Subramaniam

Published in: Advances in Therapy | Issue 12/2020

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Abstract

Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are challenged with a disproportionately high burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and limited healthcare resources at their disposal to tackle the NCD epidemic. Understanding the patient journey for NCDs from the patients’ perspective can help healthcare systems in these settings evolve their NCD care models to address the unmet needs of patients, enhance patient participation in their management, and progress towards better outcomes and quality of life. This paper aims to provide a theoretical framework outlining common touchpoints along the patient journey for NCDs in LMICs. It further aims to review influencing factors and recommend strategies to improve patient experience, satisfaction, and disease outcomes at each touchpoint. The co-occurrence of major NCDs makes it possible to structure the patient journey for NCDs into five broad touchpoints: awareness, screening, diagnosis, treatment, and adherence, with integration of palliative care along the care continuum pathway. The patients’ perspective must be considered at each touchpoint in order to inform interventions as they experience first-hand the impact of NCDs on their quality of life and physical function and participate substantially in their disease management. Collaboratively designed health communication programs, shared decision-making, use of appropriate risk assessment tools, therapeutic alliances between the patient and provider for treatment planning, self-management tools, and improved access to palliative care are some strategies to help improve the patient journeys in LMICs. Long-term management of NCDs entails substantial self-management by patients, which can be augmented by pharmacists and nurse-led interventions. The digital healthcare revolution has heralded an increase in patient engagement, support of home monitoring of patients, optimized accurate diagnosis, personalized care plans, and facilitated timely intervention. There is an opportunity to integrate digital technology into each touchpoint of the patient journey, while ensuring minimal interruption to patients’ care in the face of global health emergencies.
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Metadata
Title
A Narrative Review of the Patient Journey Through the Lens of Non-communicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors
Ratna Devi
Komal Kanitkar
R. Narendhar
Kawaldip Sehmi
Kannan Subramaniam
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
Springer Healthcare
Keyword
Care
Published in
Advances in Therapy / Issue 12/2020
Print ISSN: 0741-238X
Electronic ISSN: 1865-8652
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12325-020-01519-3

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