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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2019 Jun 3;9(6):e025332.
doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-025332.

Can goal-setting for patients with multimorbidity improve outcomes in primary care? Cluster randomised feasibility trial

John A Ford  1 , Elizabeth Lenaghan  1 , Charlotte Salter  1 , David Turner  1 , Alice Shiner  1 , Allan B Clark  1 , Jamie Murdoch  1 , Carole Green  2 , Sarah James  1 , Imogen Koopmans  1 , Alistair Lipp  3 , Annie Moseley  2 , Tom Wade  1 , Sandra Winterburn  1 , Nicholas Steel  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Can goal-setting for patients with multimorbidity improve outcomes in primary care? Cluster randomised feasibility trial

John A Ford et al. BMJ Open. .

Abstract

Introduction: Goal-setting is recommended for patients with multimorbidity, but there is little evidence to support its use in general practice.

Objective: To assess the feasibility of goal-setting for patients with multimorbidity, before undertaking a definitive trial.

Design and setting: Cluster-randomised controlled feasibility trial of goal-setting compared with control in six general practices.

Participants: Adults with two or more long term health conditions and at risk of unplanned hospital admission.

Interventions: General practitioners (GPs) underwent training and patients were asked to consider goals before an initial goal-setting consultation and a follow-up consultation 6 months later. The control group received usual care planning.

Outcome measures: Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), capability (ICEpop CAPability measure for Older people), Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care and healthcare use. All consultations were video-recorded or audio-recorded, and focus groups were held with participating GPs and patients.

Results: Fifty-two participants were recruited with a response rate of 12%. Full follow-up data were available for 41. In the goal-setting group, mean age was 80.4 years, 54% were female and the median number of prescribed medications was 13, compared with 77.2 years, 39% female and 11.5 medications in the control group. The mean initial consultation time was 23.0 min in the goal-setting group and 19.2 in the control group. Overall 28% of patient participants had no cognitive impairment. Participants set between one and three goals on a wide range of subjects, such as chronic disease management, walking, maintaining social and leisure interests, and weight management. Patient participants found goal-setting acceptable and would have liked more frequent follow-up. GPs unanimously liked goal-setting and felt it delivered more patient-centred care, and they highlighted the importance of training.

Conclusions: This goal-setting intervention was feasible to deliver in general practice. A larger, definitive study is needed to test its effectiveness.

Trial registration number: ISRCTN13248305; Post-results.

Keywords: primary care; social medicine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Consort flow diagram.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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