Proactive Telemedicine to Improve Healthcare Access and Prevention in Rural Primary Care (PTM)
NCT ID: NCT07299201
Last Updated: 2025-12-23
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
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ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
NA
120 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2024-06-25
2026-03-16
Brief Summary
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Detailed Description
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Proactive Telemedicine (PTM) is a model in which primary care professionals initiate remote contact with individuals who have not interacted with their healthcare team for at least one year. The intervention uses synchronous (telephone) and asynchronous (secure messaging) communication to deliver brief behavioral counseling based on cognitive-behavioral and motivational interviewing principles. These interventions target modifiable lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, and dietary patterns, and are aligned with national preventive care recommendations.
This randomized non-inferiority trial evaluates whether PTM provides accessibility, preventive impact, and user experience comparable to face-to-face consultations. The study examines whether proactively delivered telemedicine can serve as a scalable and acceptable strategy to increase engagement with primary care services in underserved rural areas. The information obtained will help determine the feasibility, effectiveness, and future implementation potential of PTM within broader healthcare systems.
Conditions
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Keywords
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Study Design
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RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH
NONE
Study Groups
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Arm 1: Proactive Telemedicine (PTM)
Participants receive proactive remote contact by telephone or secure electronic messaging. A standardized brief behavioral intervention is delivered at baseline, four months, and eight months, focusing on smoking status, alcohol consumption, Mediterranean diet adherence, and physical activity. The stage of behavioral change is assessed to tailor motivational strategies. Participants then enter an observational phase to monitor natural healthcare utilization.
Telemedicine Brief Behavioural Lifestyle Intervention
Participants received proactive digital contact via phone or e-consultation. They underwent a brief behavioural intervention addressing modifiable lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and diet. Additionally, access to the rural primary healthcare system will also be measured.
Arm 2: Face-to-Face Consultation
Participants attend in-person appointments at the health center at baseline, four months, and eight months. Each visit includes the same standardized behavioral intervention used in the PTM arm. Participants then enter an observational phase.
Intervention: Face-to-Face Brief Behavioral Lifestyle Intervention
Face to face Brief Behavioural Lifestyle Intervention
Participants attend in-person visits where they undergo a brief behavioural intervention addressing modifiable lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol, physical activity, diet). Additionally, access to the rural primary healthcare system is also measured.
Interventions
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Telemedicine Brief Behavioural Lifestyle Intervention
Participants received proactive digital contact via phone or e-consultation. They underwent a brief behavioural intervention addressing modifiable lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and diet. Additionally, access to the rural primary healthcare system will also be measured.
Face to face Brief Behavioural Lifestyle Intervention
Participants attend in-person visits where they undergo a brief behavioural intervention addressing modifiable lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol, physical activity, diet). Additionally, access to the rural primary healthcare system is also measured.
Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria
* Age ≥18 years
* No contact with the primary care team within the previous 12 months
* Able to provide informed consent (electronic or paper)
Exclusion Criteria
* Inability to communicate.
* Severe cognitive or psychiatric impairment.
* Advanced or palliative chronic conditions (MACA: Modelo de Atención Crónica Avanzada - Advanced Chronic Care Model).
* Outdated contact information.
18 Years
ALL
Yes
Sponsors
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Institut Catala de Salut
OTHER_GOV
Fundacio d'Investigacio en Atencio Primaria Jordi Gol i Gurina
OTHER
Responsible Party
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Robert Panades Zafra
MD, Primary Care Physician, EAP Anoia Rural, Catalonia, Spain
Principal Investigators
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Josep Vidal Alaball, PhD
Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR
Fundacio d'Investigacio en Atencio Primaria Jordi Gol i Gurina
Robert Panadés Zafra, MD
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
Fundacio d'Investigacio en Atencio Primaria Jordi Gol i Gurina
Locations
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EAP Anoia rural. Gerència d'Atenció Primària i a la comunitària Penedès. Institut Català de la Salut. Departament de Salut. Generalitat de Catalunya
Igualada, Barcelona, Spain
Countries
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References
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Direcció General de Planificació en Salut. Document tècnic de l'Enquesta de salut de Catalunya 2021. Barcelona; 2022 Jun.
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MSSSI, 2015. Consejo integral en estilo de vida en atención primaria, vinculado con recursos comunitarios en población adulta. Estrategia de Promoción de la Salud y Prevención en el SNS. Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad. Madrid; 2015.
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Related Links
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Background resource on access to health services as a social determinant of health, from Healthy People 2030.
Other Identifiers
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23/282-P
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id