# PACIC: patient activation and problem solving not related to age in patients with depressive symptoms

## TL;DR

A study found that patient activation and problem-solving in depression care are not influenced by age, but overall care is misaligned with recommended chronic care models.

## Contribution

The study reveals that patient activation and problem-solving in depression care are age-independent, offering new insights into patient-centered care gaps.

## Key findings

- Low scores in patient activation, goal setting, problem-solving, and follow-up were observed in depression care.
- Patient activation and problem-solving were not related to age in patients with depressive symptoms.
- The findings suggest poor alignment with the Chronic Care Model in German depression care.

## Abstract

The Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (PACIC) assesses alignment of chronic care with the Chronic Care Model (CCM). We analysed PACIC subscales in patients with depressive symptoms to identify gaps in patient-centred care. A total of N = 2741 patients (59.5% women, mean age 45.3 ± 16.9) were assessed for depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7) and socioeconomic data. PACIC data from 1210 patients (62.7% women, mean age 47.2 years ± 16.8) revealed low scores in subscales patient activation, goal setting, problem-solving, and follow-up. Patient activation and problem-solving were age-independent. Overall, the low PACIC scores highlight poor CCM alignment in German depression care.