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TrueBlue (Chronic Disease Management of Co-morbid Depression, Heart Disease and Diabetes (National Project, Stage 2))

The TrueBlue project continued the development and evaluation of a system of primary care for patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and/or type 2 diabetes and co-morbid depression. This project bulit on the successful work of the Depression_Treatment Evaluation Care Team (D_TECT) and Evidence-Based Best Practice Model Clinical Pathways for People with Co-Morbid Depression and Coronary Heart Disease projects. 

Fourteen general practices - seven treatment and seven control - in Northern Rivers (New South Wales), SW Victoria and Adelaide (South Australia) are participating in the study. It is a randomised design that compares the clinical outcomes between usual care and nurse-led collaborative care. Its pilot study D_TECT developed and tested the general practice-based model of chronic disease care for people with co-morbid depression, type 2 diabetes and/or chronic heart disease. Specifically, the TrueBlue study:

  1. Developed and tested a training program for general practitioners and practice nurses in the screening, assessment and management of depression in patients with type 2 diabetes and/or chronic heart disease.
  2. Tested the feasibility of practice nurses to screen, assess, collect data, refer, review and monitor patients with co-morbid depression, type 2 diabetes and/or chronic heart disease.

The study is still in its data-collection phase but anecdotal comments from the participating practice nurses suggest that TrueBlue has been well received by patients and nurses. Patients have noted, for example, that "You get to talk to a practitioner a lot longer and in a much more relaxed atmosphere" or "If you write down goals and express them, it's much more beneficial". The study has also demonstrated a better adherence to best-practice guidelines for the management and monitoring of chronic heart disease and type 2 diabetes, including monitoring of depression

TrueBlue is a collaborative project between beyondblue, the National Depression Initiative, and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. The project is due to be completed by December 2010.

Grant Details

Funding Bodies:  beyondblue, the National Depression Initiative & the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing

Chief Investigator: Professor James Dunbar (GGT UDRH, Flinders University & Deakin University)

Associate Investigators: Professor Prasuna Reddy (GGT UDRH, Flinders University & Deakin University) & Professor Richard Reed (Flinders University)

Total Funding: $530,000 ($465,000 from beyondblue, the National Depression Initiative & $65,000 from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing)

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