Self management of health and disease and decision support systems based on predictive computer modelling used by the patient him or herself

Specific challenge: Several clinical situations would be prevented or better monitored and managed with the participation of the patient him or herself. In order to promote the self-management, predictive personalised models can be combined with personal health systems and other sources of data (clinical, biological, therapeutic, behavioural, environmental or occupational exposure, lifestyle and diet etc.) and used by the patient him or herself, in order to raise individual awareness and empower the patient to participate in the management of his or her health, with application in lifestyle, wellbeing and prevention, in monitoring of the disease etc. This will improve the quality of life of patients and the self-management of disease and lifestyle.

Scope: Proposals should focus on predictive systems based on computer modelling and will develop decision support systems (DSS) that will be used by the individual. The DSS should include the collection of various data (patient, clinical, biological, therapeutic, behavioural, environmental or occupational exposure, physical training and performance, lifestyle and diet, environmental data, social data etc.). Connected existing predictive models should process these data in real-time to predict how the health of the patient will evolve in the near future and such predictions, accompanied with all relevant information regarding their uncertainties and limits should be used by the patient / citizen him or herself for self-management of health and wellbeing. These DSS may also help to improve interactions between individuals / health professionals and co-decision making in healthcare. Proposals may also include combination with monitoring personal health systems and other technologies and sources of data, as e.g. tools for data collection on external factors potentially linked to disease. Gender and ethical issues should be duly considered.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between EUR 3 and 5 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Expected impact:

• Improving the participation of the patient in the care process.
• Improving the management of a disease by reducing the number of severe episodes and complications.
• Increasing the importance of the prevention sector in healthcare using predictive modelling.
• Boosting the development of personal devices used for self-management of health.
• Improving individual self-control of health and of disease prevention

Type of action: Research and innovation actions