Disease Management Programs in The Netherlands; Do They Really Work? Using the Chronic Care Model to Thoroughly Evaluate the Long-Term Effects of Dutch Disease Management Programs

This chapter describes the long-term benefits of Disease Management Programmes (DMPs) in The Netherlands. We used the Chronic Care Model to thoroughly evaluate their long-term effects. Results clearly show that DMPs based on the chronic care model in the Netherlands resulted in (i) the successful improvement of quality of chronic care as perceived by chronically ill patients and professionals, (ii) more productive interaction between chronically ill patients and their health care professionals (iii) and improvements in chronically ill patients’ health behaviors (they smoke less and are more physically active) and physical quality of life. The findings highlight the need to broaden the scope of DMPs not aimed at functional health and self-management of a chronic disease only but also at broader self-management abilities and overall well-being which calls for person-centred care.