Periodic Reporting for period 4 - BEAMER (BEhavioral and Adherence Model for improving quality, health outcomes and cost-Effectiveness of healthcaRe)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2024-09-01 al 2025-08-31
Adherence to treatment is crucial not only for optimizing patient benefits but also as a determinant for multiple health outcomes. It's noteworthy that roughly 25% of patients neglect preventive and disease management tasks like medication adherence, appointment maintenance, screenings, exercise, and dietary modifications. Alarmingly, close to half of all patients do not follow treatment suggestions, and in scenarios involving intricate treatment plans or substantial lifestyle adjustments, this non-compliance rate can soar to 70%.
Non-adherence to medication stands out as a significant impediment in efficiently handling chronic illnesses, resulting in deteriorated health, heightened hospitalizations, and a spike in mortality rates. Annually, non-adherence is implicated in approximately 125,000 premature deaths in the US and 200,000 in the EU. This not only leads to personal distress but also places a substantial financial strain on healthcare infrastructures.
Addressing this, the EU-backed BEAMER project is geared towards consolidating factors contributing to non-adherence to treatment, with an emphasis on behavioral aspects. We seek to develop a model to offer a robust understanding of the issue, ultimately enhancing the efficacy of forthcoming solutions. The model's objective is to pinpoint the key elements influencing adherence (structural and behavioural factors), facilitating the segmentation of populations according to their needs.
Non-adherence to medication stands out as a significant impediment in efficiently handling chronic illnesses, resulting in deteriorated health, heightened hospitalizations, and a spike in mortality rates. Annually, non-adherence is implicated in approximately 125,000 premature deaths in the US and 200,000 in the EU. This not only leads to personal distress but also places a substantial financial strain on healthcare infrastructures.
Addressing this, the EU-backed BEAMER project is geared towards consolidating factors contributing to non-adherence to treatment, with an emphasis on behavioral aspects. We seek to develop a model to offer a robust understanding of the issue, ultimately enhancing the efficacy of forthcoming solutions. The model's objective is to pinpoint the key elements influencing adherence (structural and behavioural factors), facilitating the segmentation of populations according to their needs.
Since the beginning of the BEAMER project, the Consortium has progressed from foundational conceptual work to the implementation and preparation for large-scale validation of the BEAMER model and its digital tools.
In the first year, WP1 completed the review of existing data and defined the state of the art, while WP6 ensured regulatory, legal, and data-privacy alignment. WP2 initiated preliminary modelling activities, and WP3 advanced the development of data-collection strategies. By the end of this period, the conceptual framework of the BEAMER model was established, along with the key behavioural factors and definitions required for subsequent work.
During the second year, the focus shifted to the modelling phase. WP2 and WP3 refined the functional requirements of the BEAMER model, comprising a behavioural core and an outer layer informed by structural factors, and completed the BEAMER questionnaire and data-collection methodologies. A preliminary platform architecture and user-workflow definition were also created.
In the third year, the BEAMER model was finalised, and development of the Adherence Intelligence Visualization Platform (AIVP) advanced substantially by integrating insights from WP2 and WP3. WP4 initiated the study-design phase and prepared pilot-site deployment, supported by an initial data-driven evaluation of AIVP usability and stakeholder acceptance. WP5 refined personas and scenarios to ensure alignment with user needs. WP6 maintained overall coordination, addressing organisational challenges and ensuring continuity.
In the fourth year, major operational and preparatory activities were completed. These included obtaining all required ethical approvals across central and site-level committees; finalising the AIVP in English and advancing translations; producing and translating training materials; and defining the stakeholder ecosystem, roadmap, and sustainability scenarios. By the end of the fourth reporting period, technical, ethical and legal developments were ready for the launch of the pilot studies. Dissemination activities continued through participation in scientific and stakeholder events and the preparation of dedicated webinars. Exploitation and sustainability activities were intensified and external stakeholders from different fields were consulted to explore different exploitation pathways. WP6 ensured alignment with the project timeline and effective risk mitigation across all work packages.
Overall, the work completed to date has consolidated the scientific and operational foundations of the BEAMER model and prepared the Consortium for the upcoming implementation, evaluation, and exploitation phases.
In the first year, WP1 completed the review of existing data and defined the state of the art, while WP6 ensured regulatory, legal, and data-privacy alignment. WP2 initiated preliminary modelling activities, and WP3 advanced the development of data-collection strategies. By the end of this period, the conceptual framework of the BEAMER model was established, along with the key behavioural factors and definitions required for subsequent work.
During the second year, the focus shifted to the modelling phase. WP2 and WP3 refined the functional requirements of the BEAMER model, comprising a behavioural core and an outer layer informed by structural factors, and completed the BEAMER questionnaire and data-collection methodologies. A preliminary platform architecture and user-workflow definition were also created.
In the third year, the BEAMER model was finalised, and development of the Adherence Intelligence Visualization Platform (AIVP) advanced substantially by integrating insights from WP2 and WP3. WP4 initiated the study-design phase and prepared pilot-site deployment, supported by an initial data-driven evaluation of AIVP usability and stakeholder acceptance. WP5 refined personas and scenarios to ensure alignment with user needs. WP6 maintained overall coordination, addressing organisational challenges and ensuring continuity.
In the fourth year, major operational and preparatory activities were completed. These included obtaining all required ethical approvals across central and site-level committees; finalising the AIVP in English and advancing translations; producing and translating training materials; and defining the stakeholder ecosystem, roadmap, and sustainability scenarios. By the end of the fourth reporting period, technical, ethical and legal developments were ready for the launch of the pilot studies. Dissemination activities continued through participation in scientific and stakeholder events and the preparation of dedicated webinars. Exploitation and sustainability activities were intensified and external stakeholders from different fields were consulted to explore different exploitation pathways. WP6 ensured alignment with the project timeline and effective risk mitigation across all work packages.
Overall, the work completed to date has consolidated the scientific and operational foundations of the BEAMER model and prepared the Consortium for the upcoming implementation, evaluation, and exploitation phases.
The main output of this project will be a disease-agnostic behavioral and adherence model for improving quality, health outcomes and cost-effectiveness of healthcare, through the improvement of the quality of life of individuals, enhancement of healthcare accessibility and sustainability. The model will allow for tailoring to individual's needs, using Real World Data captured from patients' behaviors and health system information, transforming the way healthcare stakeholders engage with patients to optimize understanding of their condition and adherence levels throughout their patient journey.
BEAMER will optimize the disease-agnostic adherence model by real-life testing proof-of-concept in 18 different settings in Norway, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, and Italy, including over 3,500 patients. BEAMER will be embodied in an open source European searchable database, continuously updated, validated and optimized by empirical evidence and new insights, available to all stakeholders and adaptable for future developments in healthcare. Finally, extensive efforts will be directed to develop and implement dissemination and communication activities that increase exploitation and sustainability of BEAMER.
The impact of the model implementation is hopefully the reform of the way healthcare is provided. By putting the patient at the core of its system, we aim to deliver high-value personalised care, increase the adherence of patients to therapy, and lead to a significant decrease in healthcare costs across Europe.
BEAMER will optimize the disease-agnostic adherence model by real-life testing proof-of-concept in 18 different settings in Norway, Spain, the Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, and Italy, including over 3,500 patients. BEAMER will be embodied in an open source European searchable database, continuously updated, validated and optimized by empirical evidence and new insights, available to all stakeholders and adaptable for future developments in healthcare. Finally, extensive efforts will be directed to develop and implement dissemination and communication activities that increase exploitation and sustainability of BEAMER.
The impact of the model implementation is hopefully the reform of the way healthcare is provided. By putting the patient at the core of its system, we aim to deliver high-value personalised care, increase the adherence of patients to therapy, and lead to a significant decrease in healthcare costs across Europe.