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MultimorbidityMULTIMORB-PC-RNCT06876558

Exploring the Multimorbidity Burden in Primary Care in Romania

An observational study of Multimorbidity and General Practice (GP), Primary Care Settings, run by Internist.Ro at 1 site in Romania.

Not yet recruiting

Opening soon. The study is approved but enrolment has not started yet. Sites may already take enquiries.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

Multimorbidity, the coexistence of two or more chronic conditions, is a growing challenge in primary care, significantly impacting healthcare systems worldwide. Its prevalence is rising, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, leading to increased healthcare utilization, polypharmacy, and… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Any ageHealthy volunteers can take part
How many people
500 participants
Where
1 siteRomania
Study dates
20 Mar 2025to 1 Jun 2025
Phase
Observational
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages Any age
  • All sexes
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult, Older adult

Study population: The study population consists of primary care physicians (PCPs) and ambulatory care specialists actively working in Romania. Participants will be recruited from urban and rural primary care clinics, outpatient specialist practices, and ambulatory care centers across various regions of the country. The survey will be distributed through national and local medical associations, professional networks. The expected prevalence of multimorbidity is estimated at 20%. This requires a minimum of 246 completed surveys to achieve a 95% confidence level with a 5% margin of error. This population will represent a diverse group of healthcare professionals who are directly involved in the management of multimorbid patients in outpatient settings, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and strategies associated with multimorbidity care in Romania.

Who may be able to join

  • Active AMBULATORY CARE medical practice in Romania.
  • Experience in managing patients with multimorbidity.
  • Willingness to participate in the study.

Who cannot join

  • None

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

Romania1 site
  • Universitatea Transilvania Brasov School of Medicine

    Brasov, 500019

    Andrea Neculau, Professor of Medicine, 0040268 412185, f-med@unitbv.ro

Other trials in Romania

About this study

Multimorbidity, the coexistence of two or more chronic conditions, is a growing challenge in primary care, significantly impacting healthcare systems worldwide. Its prevalence is rising, particularly among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, leading to increased healthcare utilization, polypharmacy, and fragmented care. Current clinical guidelines primarily address single-disease management, failing to provide comprehensive strategies for multimorbid patients.

Although multimorbidity has been extensively studied in Western Europe and North America, data on its burden in Romania and other Eastern European countries remain scarce. There is limited knowledge on how primary care physicians (PCPs) in Romania perceive and manage multimorbidity, particularly regarding clinical decision-making, interdisciplinary collaboration, and adherence to treatment guidelines.

Read more

This cross-sectional study aims to explore the impact of multimorbidity on Romanian PCPs, assessing their challenges in managing complex patients, their clinical and therapeutic approaches, and their level of comfort with deprescription and guideline adaptation. We will conduct a nationwide survey among primary care physicians and ambulatory specialists to evaluate the prevalence of multimorbidity in their practice, the difficulties they encounter, and potential strategies to improve care delivery.

Key outcomes include the identification of multimorbidity prevalence in ambulatory settings, challenges related to consultation time and treatment complexity, barriers to interdisciplinary collaboration, and the balance between defensive and proactive medicine. Findings will provide valuable insights to guide policy changes, enhance clinical training, and promote patient-centered approaches in primary care

Read the detailed description

Background and Rationale Multimorbidity, defined as the presence of two or more chronic conditions in the same individual, is a growing concern in global healthcare. It significantly impacts healthcare systems, increasing hospital admissions, prolonging hospital stays, and elevating healthcare costs. In the European Union, it is estimated that at least 50 million people suffer from multimorbidity, and this number is expected to rise with aging populations (Rijken et al., 2013).

Patients with multimorbidity experience worse health outcomes compared to those with a single chronic disease, including higher mortality rates, reduced functional capacity, lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and a greater prevalence of depression (Menotti et al., 2001, Christine Vogeli et al., 2007). Managing multimorbidity is particularly complex due to polypharmacy and the risk of adverse drug interactions. The current disease-specific clinical guidelines, which primarily focus on single-disease management, often fail to address the multifaceted needs of multimorbid patients (Kristen Anderson et al., 2017).

State of the Art Multimorbidity research has been widely conducted in high-income Western European countries and North America, leading to established frameworks for care models, clinical guidelines, and integrated management strategies. However, research on multimorbidity in Eastern European healthcare systems remains scarce. Romania, in particular, lacks comprehensive data on multimorbidity prevalence, its impact on primary care, and physicians' perspectives on its management.

In many healthcare systems, general practitioners (GPs) are at the frontline of multimorbidity management, yet they face substantial challenges, including limited consultation time, scarce resources, and difficulties in coordinating with specialists. Multimorbid patients require personalized care plans, often leading to guideline deviations that may cause physician anxiety about potential medical and legal repercussions. Understanding how Romanian primary care physicians navigate these challenges is essential to improving patient outcomes and optimizing healthcare delivery.

Knowledge Gap

Despite the increasing prevalence of multimorbidity in Romania, there is little empirical evidence regarding:

The proportion of multimorbid patients seen in primary care. The specific challenges physicians face in managing these patients. The role of interdisciplinary collaboration and the barriers to integrated care.

The balance between defensive medicine and proactive deprescription strategies. The impact of multimorbidity on physicians' clinical decision-making and their adherence to single-disease guidelines.

By addressing these gaps, this study aims to provide valuable insights into how multimorbidity affects clinical practice in Romania and identify potential improvements in patient-centered care.

Objectives

This study aims to explore the impact of multimorbidity on primary care physicians in Romania, focusing on:

The prevalence of multimorbidity in ambulatory care. The challenges faced by GPs, including time constraints, polypharmacy, and resource limitations.

Difficulties in interdisciplinary collaboration and care coordination. The use of defensive vs. proactive medicine in multimorbidity management. The influence of multimorbidity on adherence to clinical guidelines and physician decision-making.

Potential solutions to improve multimorbidity management, including extending consultation times, enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration, and integrating multimorbidity-focused guidelines into primary care.

Methods Study Design This is a cross-sectional survey-based study conducted among primary care physicians and ambulatory care specialists in Romania. The survey will assess multimorbidity's impact on clinical decision-making, patient management strategies, and interdisciplinary collaboration. A semi-qualitative component will be included to gather in-depth insights from physicians.

Study Population

Inclusion Criteria:

Active medical practice in Romania. Experience in managing patients with multimorbidity. Willingness to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: None. Data Collection Survey Distribution: The survey will be disseminated electronically and in print among primary care physicians in Romania and the Balkan region.

Survey Components:

Demographic information: Age, gender, years of experience, practice setting. Clinical workload: Average number of patients seen per day, proportion of multimorbid patients.

Management strategies: Approaches to polypharmacy, deprescription practices, time allocation for multimorbid patients.

Physician perceptions: Challenges faced, levels of comfort with guideline deviations, attitudes toward interdisciplinary collaboration.

Data Processing and Analysis: Quantitative data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative responses will be thematically analyzed.

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes:

Proportion of multimorbidity, single morbidity, and non-comorbid patients in ambulatory care.

Identification of challenges related to consultation time, treatment complexity, and polypharmacy.

Assessment of preventive strategies (smoking cessation, alcohol reduction, diet, physical activity, sleep, and social engagement).

Secondary Outcomes:

Barriers to interdisciplinary collaboration and care coordination. Patterns of defensive medicine versus active deprescription practices. Levels of physician anxiety related to adherence to clinical guidelines. Expected Impact

This study will provide evidence on the prevalence and impact of multimorbidity in Romanian primary care. It aims to inform policymakers, healthcare administrators, and medical educators on how to improve multimorbidity management through:

Better allocation of resources and consultation time. Training programs focused on multimorbidity care strategies. Development of integrated care pathways that support interdisciplinary collaboration.

By addressing the challenges faced by primary care physicians, this study will contribute to a more effective and patient-centered approach to multimorbidity management in Romania

Keywords
multimorbidity, priamary care, specialized care

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

Study groups in NCT06876558
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Primary Care Physicians (PCPs)General practitioners (GPs) actively working in primary care settings. Responsible for managing multimorbid patients in ambulatory settings. Expected proportion: MHalf of the population
Ambulatory Care SpecialistsSpecialists involved in outpatient management of chronic diseases (e.g., internal medicine, cardiology, endocrinology). Provide secondary care and interact with PCPs in multimorbidity management.

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Proportion of multimorbidity

    Prevalence of multimorbidity in primary care (percentage of patients)

    Measured: baseline

  2. Proportion of single morbidity

    Proportion of single morbidity (percentage) in primary care practice

    Measured: baseline

  3. Proportion of non comorbid patients

    Proportion percentage out of total) of non comorbid patients in primary care versus specialized ambulatory care according to specialty.

    Measured: Baseline

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted14 Mar 2025
  2. Study start20 Mar 2025 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion1 Jun 2025 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Jun 2025 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Observational
Observational model
Case-control
Time perspective
Cross-sectional
Enrolment
500 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT06876558
Sponsor's protocol ID
A003
Acronym
MULTIMORB-PC-R
Status last verified
Mar 2025
First submitted
10 Mar 2025
Last updated
14 Mar 2025
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes

Publications

  • Rijken,M. and Struckmann,V. and Dyakova,M. and Melchiorre, M. G. and Rissanen,S. and Ginneken,E. van, 20133386107, English, Journal article, Belgium, 1356-1030, 19, (3), Brussels, Eurohealth, (29-31), European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, ICARE4EU: improving care for people with multiple chronic conditions in Europe., (2013)

  • Anderson K, Foster M, Freeman C, Luetsch K, Scott I. Negotiating "Unmeasurable Harm and Benefit": Perspectives of General Practitioners and Consultant Pharmacists on Deprescribing in the Primary Care Setting. Qual Health Res. 2017 Nov;27(13):1936-1947. doi: 10.1177/1049732316687732. Epub 2017 Jan 12.

    PubMed 29088989
  • Menotti A, Mulder I, Nissinen A, Giampaoli S, Feskens EJ, Kromhout D. Prevalence of morbidity and multimorbidity in elderly male populations and their impact on 10-year all-cause mortality: The FINE study (Finland, Italy, Netherlands, Elderly). J Clin Epidemiol. 2001 Jul;54(7):680-6. doi: 10.1016/s0895-4356(00)00368-1.

    PubMed 11438408

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

An observational study of Multimorbidity and General Practice (GP), Primary Care Settings, run by Internist.Ro at 1 site in Romania.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Mar 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in Romania. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Adrian PURCAREA, MD (0040751141636, adrian.purcarea@interinst.ro), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Proportion of multimorbidity (time frame: baseline). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06876558, which also lists 3 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Mar 2025; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 3 Nov 2026.

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