A quantitative examination of how adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions experience chronic healthcare
1
Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A129
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Individuals with more than two chronic conditions, known as Multiple Chronic Conditions (MLTCs), often experience increased health care utilization and polypharmacy. The Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) scale is most appropriate for assessing self-reported experience in chronic care; however, its use in the MLTC cohort in the African context is limited. . Objectives We aimed to assess the experience of chronic care of patients with MLTCs using baseline data from the ENHANCE clinical trial. Objectives were: (i) to compare the experience of care received by two groups with MLTCs, those with HIV and other non-communicable diseases. (ii)To examine the association between experience of care and demographic characteristics of patients with MLTCs. (iii)To describe the frequency of health service utilization by individuals living with MLTCs.
METHODS:
We conducted a secondary analysis of 1746 patients with MLTCs aged 40 and above in 32 clinics in two South African Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. We collected data using the PACIC instrument, a standardized questionnaire for the experience of chronic care. Descriptive statistics were performed to report the socio-demographics of the participants. In addition, we fitted linear regression models to explore the association of experience of chronic care and sociodemographic characteristics.
RESULTS:
Overall, the mean age was 58 years (SD: 9.8), 76% were women. The experience of chronic care was positively associated with being married (p=0.002) and widowed (p=0.002), employed (p=0.001), and receiving care in the Western Cape Province (p=0.004), having ≥3 chronic conditions (p=0.021), and three clinic visits (p=0.011). After adjusting for all other variables, patients who were employed (p=0.001), residing in the Western Cape province (p=0.006), who were widowed (p=0.010), and who had three visits experienced person-centered chronic care.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings suggest that socioeconomic context, play an important role in shaping chronic care experiences for patients with MLTCs.
Individuals with more than two chronic conditions, known as Multiple Chronic Conditions (MLTCs), often experience increased health care utilization and polypharmacy. The Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) scale is most appropriate for assessing self-reported experience in chronic care; however, its use in the MLTC cohort in the African context is limited. . Objectives We aimed to assess the experience of chronic care of patients with MLTCs using baseline data from the ENHANCE clinical trial. Objectives were: (i) to compare the experience of care received by two groups with MLTCs, those with HIV and other non-communicable diseases. (ii)To examine the association between experience of care and demographic characteristics of patients with MLTCs. (iii)To describe the frequency of health service utilization by individuals living with MLTCs.
METHODS:
We conducted a secondary analysis of 1746 patients with MLTCs aged 40 and above in 32 clinics in two South African Provinces, KwaZulu-Natal and Western Cape. We collected data using the PACIC instrument, a standardized questionnaire for the experience of chronic care. Descriptive statistics were performed to report the socio-demographics of the participants. In addition, we fitted linear regression models to explore the association of experience of chronic care and sociodemographic characteristics.
RESULTS:
Overall, the mean age was 58 years (SD: 9.8), 76% were women. The experience of chronic care was positively associated with being married (p=0.002) and widowed (p=0.002), employed (p=0.001), and receiving care in the Western Cape Province (p=0.004), having ≥3 chronic conditions (p=0.021), and three clinic visits (p=0.011). After adjusting for all other variables, patients who were employed (p=0.001), residing in the Western Cape province (p=0.006), who were widowed (p=0.010), and who had three visits experienced person-centered chronic care.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings suggest that socioeconomic context, play an important role in shaping chronic care experiences for patients with MLTCs.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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