STARS EU focuses its research on healthcare for older patients with lower health and digital literacy

STARS EU will focus on improving the capacity of older patients with lower health and digital literacy. The research initiative, called STARS-Health, led by the Hanze University (The Netherlands) together with University of La Laguna (Spain), the Evaluation Unit of the Canary Islands Health Service (SESCS-SCS), University West (Sweden), Silesian University of Opava (Czechia), and Polytechnic University of Bragança (Portugal), seeks to help older patients to understand and use digital services in order to prevent and manage health conditions, empower patients and improve communication with their caregivers.

All these measures are ultimately aimed at contributing to reducing inequalities in access to healthcare, the ultimate goal of STARS-Health, the first project of the alliance in which five partner universities participate, financed with European funds, whose overall budget amounts to almost one million euros.

To achieve the objectives set, an application called FindMyApps, originally developed for people with mild dementia, will be redesigned for older adults with Lower Health and Digital Literacy (LHDL). In addition to this application, the project addresses the development of training programs aimed at caregivers in primary, hospital and community care environments.

In the development of integrated care, it is essential to take into account a series of specific cares, which is why STARS-Health project starts with the identification of the needs of elderly patients with LHDL, as well as those of their caregivers; the review of digital services designed for these people; the redesign and implementation of FindMyApps and specialized communication training for professionals specialized in elderly care.

As indicated by those responsible for STARS-Health, developed within the scope of the Thematic Interest Group (TIG) Healthy Ageing, the results of this project will not only have an impact on the health of older adults with LHDL, but will also contribute to relieving pressure on health and primary care centers, and improving communication between patients and caregivers. “The objective is to promote secondary and tertiary prevention in primary, hospital and community care for these people.”

Promotion of new prevention strategies

The initiative will also provide a boost for new prevention strategies and improve equity in access to health care, especially for residents in rural areas. Another of its benefits is the possible reduction of pressure on the health and care system, brought about by the improvement of caregivers’ performance and job satisfaction due to the use of support tools.

It should be noted that caregivers support patients manage their own health by using digital tools, such as apps, medical portals, or monitoring devices. Many of these caregivers and patients have difficulty finding, understanding or using health information in digital media, so they need an integrated and effective health care system to guide them on their journey from hospitals to community care services.

The fact that 42% of the population in Europe has a low level of health literacy influences the quality of care, increases pressure on health systems and exacerbates inequalities, especially in rural areas. Recent data indicate that lower patient health literacy is linked to a higher prevalence of chronic diseases, hospitalisations and doctor visits, a fact that puts pressure on the health care system’s secondary and tertiary prevention programs.

Research team

The team of researchers of the project, in which five of the nine partners that make up STARS EU participate, is headed by Sandra Jorna-Lakke (Hanze), the project leader and coordinator; Hans Hobbelen (Hanze University of Applied Sciences); Margareta Karlsson (University West); Rui Pedro Lopes (Polytechnic University of Bragança); Sara Darias-Curvo and Ángel Acebes (University of La Laguna); Yvetta Vrublova (Silesian University in Opava), together with the Canary Islands Health Service, represented by Lilisbeth Perestelo-Pérez.

STARS-Health, which starts next April, will last three years and has funding of 912,060 euros, granted by the European Association for the Transformation of Health and Care Systems (THCS). This is a co-financing action that is developed under the framework of the European Union’s (EU) Horizon Europe Research and Innovation (R+I) Programme for the period 2021-2027.