Measuring Impact: Progress in ESCAPE’s Evaluation Work (WP5)
As ESCAPE moves closer to delivering results, understanding the real-world impact of its innovative care model is more important than ever. Funded under Horizon 2020, the project is developing and testing a blended-collaborative care (BCC) approach to improve the quality of life of older patients living with heart failure, multiple chronic conditions, and psychological distress.
At the centre of this effort is Work Package 5 (WP5), which focuses on evaluating both the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the ESCAPE intervention. Led by teams at the University Medical Centre Göttingen and partners including the University of Witten/Herdecke and the University of Cologne, WP5 brings together expertise in biostatistics, health economics, and clinical research to ensure that ESCAPE’s outcomes are robust, meaningful, and relevant for healthcare systems across Europe.
Turning Data into Evidence
WP5 plays a critical role in analysing the wealth of data generated through ESCAPE’s clinical study. This includes demographic, clinical, and socioeconomic data collected from patients across multiple European sites, as well as detailed cost information to assess the economic implications of the intervention.
A major recent milestone has been the finalisation of the Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP)—a key document that defines how trial data will be analysed. This ensures transparency, reproducibility, and scientific rigour in evaluating both the randomised controlled trial (RCT) and the broader cohort study.
At the same time, the WP5 team has begun conducting baseline analyses of participating patients, providing important insights into the characteristics and needs of the ESCAPE population. These findings will help contextualise the results of the intervention and support future scientific publications.
Preparing for End-of-Treatment Analysis
As clinical activities across ESCAPE sites reach completion, WP5 is now focused on preparing the End-of-Treatment (EoT) analysis—a crucial step in determining whether the BCC approach delivers measurable improvements in patient outcomes.
This work is closely coordinated with clinical partners to ensure that incoming data is complete, accurate, and ready for analysis. Significant progress has already been made in strengthening data quality processes, including the implementation of a comprehensive data quality report and ongoing monitoring activities.
Building the Economic Case for Integrated Care
In parallel with clinical evaluation, WP5 is advancing its health economic analysis. Initial cost data has now been received from participating clinical partners, and the first sets of patient-level financial data—such as receipts—have been digitised. These efforts will enable the team to assess whether the ESCAPE intervention not only improves patient outcomes, but also represents an efficient use of healthcare resources.
Understanding cost-effectiveness is essential for supporting future uptake of the ESCAPE model in real-world healthcare systems, where resource allocation is a key consideration.
Refining Patient Pathways
Another important strand of WP5’s work has been the adaptation of patient pathways across clinical sites. By refining how patients move through the intervention and healthcare system, the team is helping to ensure consistency in implementation while also capturing meaningful differences between national contexts.
Looking Ahead
With the foundations now firmly in place, WP5 is entering a decisive phase. The completion of End-of-Treatment analyses will soon provide the first comprehensive insights into the effectiveness of ESCAPE’s blended-collaborative care model.
These results will not only contribute to scientific knowledge, but also support policymakers, healthcare providers, and stakeholders in understanding how integrated, patient-centred approaches can improve care for Europe’s ageing population.
Stay tuned as ESCAPE continues to turn data into evidence, and evidence into impact.
