General Conditions Concerning the Implementation of an Outpatient Education Programme - Characteristics and Distinctions from an Inpatient Training Programme

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the EVA study was to develop an outpatient education programme for women with endometriosis with a view to permanent transfer into routine care. Implementation of the programme generated several problems and obstacles that are not, or not to this extent, present in the inpatient setting of a rehabilitation clinic. METHODS: The patient education programme was developed in line with an existing inpatient programme, taking into account the criteria for evaluating such training programmes. Several adjustments to process, structure and content level had to be made to achieve the conditions of the outpatient setting. RESULTS: Since May 2008, 17 training courses took place in various outpatient and acute inpatient settings, and a total of 156 women with diagnosed endometriosis participated. The problems and obstacles that emerged affected similarly the process, structure and content of the training programme. DISCUSSION: On the structural level, especially problems with availability of rooms, technical equipment and trainers occurred, leading to significant time pressures. The main problem on the procedural level was the recruitment of participants, since - in contrast to the inpatient setting and to disease management programmes - no assignment by physicians or insurers takes place. Furthermore, gainful activity of the participants and the resulting shift of the training beyond the usual working and opening hours are important barriers for implementation. The unavailability of trainers in these settings requires creative solutions. Regarding the contents of the training it has to be taken into consideration that - unlike the inpatient setting - no aftercare intervention and no individual psychological consultation are possible. The training programme has to be designed in such a way that all problems that have occurred could be dealt with appropriately. CONCLUSION: In summary, the permanent implementation of an outpatient training programme is possible but is more time-consuming than inpatient trainings due to unfavourable conditions concerning recruitment, organization and procedure. It seems that “soft” factors such as motivation, integration into the clinic concept, well-defined acceptance of responsibility and experience in dealing with the disease and with patient groups are the critical success factors. Until now cost carriage by the health insurance funds has not been realized - except for disease management programmes; so there is still a need for action here.