The Role of Telephone Triage Nurses in Supporting Older Adults with Multimorbidities in Ireland and Belgium to Self-Manage using Digital Technology

Abstract

Multimorbidity, the presence of two or more chronic conditions, places a significant burden on health systems worldwide. People managing multimorbidity face burdensome and complex self-management routines, including symptom monitoring, communicating with multiple healthcare providers, managing multiple medications and processing and managing potentially conflicting advice on conditions. With 50 million people in the EU living with multimorbidity; risk factors for its development increasing with age; and, the cost and complexity of its management, the need for solutions to assist people with self-management of their conditions is becoming more urgent. ProACT, an EU H2020-funded project developed a digital integrated care system to support older people living with multimorbidity to self-manage their conditions, supported by a care network. Part of this project included a telephone nurse triage service to respond to any symptom alerts generated by those using the system.