The RELIEF PCP project was initiated by developing a generic PCP process and documentation based on the PCP model created by the European Commission.
The consortium carried out a large European need analysis and co-creation process with the main stakeholders of the project. The RELIEF preparation stage included: literature review and study of the state of the art; organization of focus groups and individual interviews; publication of the Prior Information Notice; and organization of the Open Market Consultation activities.
Based on the information collected during the preparatory activities, the consortium worked in the preparation of the tender documents needed for launching the process through the RELIEF eTendering Platform.
Specific and detailed evaluation and monitoring methodologies were defined to carried out the three phases and guarantee an adequate execution of the work by the awarded contractors. No incidences were identified in Phase 1 and Phase 2. 17 offers were submitted in phase 1, 7 of which were awarded.
A preparation stage for Phase 2 was necessary to redefine the Tender process for Prototype Development. It took more time than expected and a 4-months extension of the project was needed. After the Call-off for Phase 2 ended, there were 7 offers submitted. The project awarded 4 suppliers for starting Phase 2.
The Phase 3 was divided in three phases: Local Adaptation, Pilot Test and Field Testing. It was carried out in the three sites of the buyer group: Spain, France and Sweden, with the objective of recruiting 120 patients, 40 per site. The procurers decided to design this phase as a clinical study in real-life conditions with patients.
The phase was planned to last for 10 months, although several deviations from this initial plan were needed. Some delays in all sites were due to the need of a longer time for the adaptation of the prototypes to the local sites and the improvement of the solutions during and after the pilot test. Besides, the field-testing started with an additional delay in France because of a late approval of the clinical protocol by the French committee. However, the main impact in the project execution was due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences in the recruitment of patients that took longer than expected.
The pandemic also impacted in the number of patients recruited. The recruitment of patients stopped even though the objective of 120 patients was not reached. 102 patients were recruited and 95 of them successfully complete.
Through all the above activities, the project obtained two main results. On the one hand, the knowledge obtained from the implementation of the RELIEF PCP process. On the other hand, the eHealth solutions to empower patients with chronic pain.
Regarding the PCP experience, the consortium has acquired a very relevant knowledge about how to implement and carry out a PCP project. Related to the solutions developed in the project, they have demonstrated that they can work in a real-life environment, in a healthcare domain, although additional measures for their fine-tuning are needed.
Although the buyer group has planned some activities to support the exploitation, they will be implemented according to the final progress of the technologies in the market. At this moment, the most important issue is the option that the buyer group and contractors are analyzing regarding the use of the solutions for free for 1 year.
Several communication and dissemination activities has been carried out by using different. The last month of the project, the consortium organized the RELIEF Final Conference in which 52 stakeholders attended. Besides, the project has designed the RELIEF educational programme.
