General Info

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WHAT IS THE ACCESS STUDY?

The Assessing outcomes of enhanced Chronic disease Care through patient Education and a value-baSed formulary Study (ACCESS) is a three year study being conducted by investigators at the University of Calgary. The ACCESS study is looking at whether providing preventive medications free of charge for selected high value medications, and a comprehensive patient education program, combined with relay of information on optimal medication use from patients to their healthcare providers, will improve people’s health. The study is enrolling low income senior’s with a variety of chronic conditions (heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, or a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease (high cholesterol and smoking).

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE STUDY?

The purpose of this study is to look at ways to improve health for Alberta seniors (age 65 or older) with chronic health conditions including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, or a combination of diabetes, high blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease (high cholesterol and smoking).

WHAT ARE WE INVESTIGATING?

In this three year study, we are testing the impact of two interventions to which you will be randomly assigned:

1) Preventive medications free of charge: receiving preventive medications for diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease without co-payment through your regular Alberta Blue Cross Coverage for Seniors Program (see the attached medication guide which provides more information on the preventive medications that would be provided free of charge) and

2) Personalized education program to help you manage your chronic conditions: receiving a comprehensive patient education program tailored to your needs based on the information you provide to us at the start of the study.

YOU WILL BE RANDOMLY SELECTED TO BE IN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING FOUR STUDY GROUPS:

(1) both preventive medications free of charge AND free enrollment in a new personalized education program to help you manage your chronic conditions,

(2) preventive medications free of charge AND access to educational information about your chronic conditions;

(3) continue with your usual Blue Cross drug insurance coverage and free enrollment in a new personalized education program to help you manage your chronic conditions;

(4) continue with your usual Blue Cross drug insurance coverage and access to educational information about your chronic conditions.

HOW WILL MY COVERAGE CHANGE?

If you are randomly assigned to receive preventive medications free of charge, you will continue to receive drug coverage through Alberta Blue Cross Coverage for Seniors Program throughout this study, and at the end of the study (3 years after enrollment), your drug coverage will return to your current plan (in other words, you will start paying your co-payment again). If you are randomized to the personalized education program, your personalized education will also end at the end of study (3 years after enrollment).

ELECTRONIC OR PAPER?

If you are randomized to the personalized education program, you will have access to personalized education by mail or electronically depending on your preference. If you choose to be contacted electronically,  we may send you emails containing information about the medications you take and your health related behaviors, as part of the educational platform.

HOW TO CONTACT US

Contact Information
Study coordinator:
Email: [email protected]
(Toll free) Phone number: 1-844-310-0585

Lead
Dr. Braden Manns
Tel: 403-210-6609

ETHICS APPROVAL

The study has been approved by the Research Ethics Board at the University of Calgary and is funded by Alberta Innovates Health Solutions.

This website represents best clinical evidence arrived at after careful consideration and does not override the individual responsibility of healthcare professionals to make decisions appropriate to the patient, in consultation with the patient and/or guardian or caregiver. Implementation of this information is the responsibility of the healthcare professional with due regard to the condition of the individual patient. Nothing in this information should be interpreted in a way that would be consistent with those responsibilities.