Related Resources
TrueBlue (Chronic Disease Management of Co-morbid Depression, Heart Disease and Diabetes (National Project, Stage 2))
The True Blue project aims to continue 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 continues to build 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.
Eighteen general practices - nine treatments and nine control clusters - in the Northern Rivers (New South Wales), Melbourne (Victoria), and Adelaide (South Australia) are participating in the study which is revolutionising the way patients with chronic diseases are managed in a primary health care setting. The study design is a randomised experiment that aims to compare clinical outcomes between usual care and nurse led collaborative care. Specifically the study aims to:
- Develop and pilot test a general practice-based model of chronic disease care for people with co-morbid depression, type 2 diabetes and/or CHD.
- Develop and test 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 CHD.
- Test the feasibility of practice nurses to screen, assess, collect data, counsel, refer, review and monitor patients with co-morbid depression, type 2 diabetes and/or CHD.
This is a collaborative project between beyondblue, the National Depression Initiative; the Department of Human Services - Victoria; the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing; the Department of Health South Australia and the Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health. The project is due for completion in December 2009.
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)