Chain of Trust (2011-2013)
“Chain of Trust” was a two year project which started off in January 2011 and ended in January 2013 with the overall objective of assessing the perspective of the main end users of telehealth services across the EU to see whether and how views have evolved since the initial deployment of telehealth and what barriers there still are to building confidence in and acceptance of this innovative type of services.
The Chain of Trust project is co-financed by the EU Public Health Programme and will last 24 months until December 2012. The project consortium comprises the following partners:
European Patients’ Forum (EPF, project leader)
Standing Committee of European Doctors (CPME)
Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union (PGEU)
European Federation of Nurses Associations (EFN)
Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF)
Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine and Telecare (NST)
Latvian Umbrella Body for Disability Organisations (SUSTENTO).
The project assessed the views, needs, benefits and barriers related to telehealth from the perspective of patients, doctors, nurses and pharmacists.
Through a sustainable partnership between their representative EU umbrella organisations these telehealth user groups had the opportunity to voice their views through various methods focused on gathering qualitative information and driven by a participatory approach.
CPME lead activities on the ‘Assessment of patients and health professionals’ perspective on telehealth’ Work Package, in cooperation with the Thalassaemia International Foundation (TIF). The work plan included a literature review, an online survey and the implementation of national workshops and European focus groups for the end users of telehealth applications.
Furthermore, CPME supported the activities of the other Work Packages by providing input on the doctors’ perspective on telehealth and involving its members in the dissemination of outcomes.
Ultimately the project aimed at strengthening significantly the levels of awareness and trust for all key stakeholders. The findings and the recommendations constitute a unique tool to inform policies and decision-making at various levels.
For more information on the Chain of Trust project, please visit the project website at: www.chainoftrust.eu
The final report is available here
Two videos about the project are also available on youtube here and here.
For questions relating to CPME’s involvement in the project, please contact CPME Policy Advisor, Ms Constance Colin.
For general questions relating to the project, please contact Liuska Sanna and Walter Atzori (project coordinators, European Patients’ Forum (EPF)).