Department of Medicine 4 wins grant for supporting patient-centered care in Uganda

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Photo: Felix Knauf, Trishul Siddhartan

About 80% of deaths caused by chronic, non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular or kidney disease occur in low or middle income countries. Patients are often uninformed about causes and treatment options, which can lead not only to a deterioration in their state of health, but also to social exclusion. Improving health education and patient-oriented care offer considerable opportunities for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.

Funding through Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung

Funded by Else-Kröner-Fresenius Stiftung, researchers and physicians at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Yale University will support Project ACCESS in Nakeseke, Uganda, in building up a center of excellence for patient-centered care in the next three years. On the one hand, health professionals at ACCESS will receive on-the-job training about patient-centered care. New nurses and community health workers will also be trained. On the other hand, patients will be educated about their diseases using the so-called PocketDoktor booklets. These will be translated into the regional language Luganda and culturally adapted. Patients will be educated about causes, mechanisms and treatment options for their disease and will be supported in issues related to disease management and healthy lifestyles. This method will be evaluated by researchers from Erlangen, Yale and Uganda. Students and physicians from Erlangen, Yale and Uganda will have the opportunity to participate in clinical rotations in Uganda or Erlangen via the Makarere-Yale Collaborative (MUYU).

Further information:

Dr. Felix Knauf

Nora Anton