Adapting and testing PEN-Plus in Zambian primary care
Official title: PEN-Plus Initiation Grant Opportunity: Domestication and Implementation of the PEN-Plus Clinical Model in the Zambian Health System
Run by Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia · NCT07753681 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aiming to see if the PEN-Plus package can be adapted and used in two Zambian hospitals to better manage chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and sickle cell in primary care.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 2084 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Lusaka, Lusaka Province) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 8, 2022 |
| Main results expected | September 30, 2027 |
| Study ends | September 30, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | August 7, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07753681 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults with chronic non-communicable diseases presenting at the participating first-level hospitals.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who do not engage with follow-up or whose care needs fall outside the PEN-Plus scope may not experience benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational project will adapt the WHO PEN-Plus package for non-communicable diseases to the Zambian health system using the Interactive Systems Framework. It will implement and monitor the approach at two first-level hospitals (peri-urban and rural) with inclusive stakeholder input and bi-annual reporting to a project advisory board. The study focuses on capacity building, local adaptation, and potential scaling up across Zambia to improve management of chronic NCDs. Data from routine hospital records will inform implementation progress and guide future scale-up efforts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients may receive more standardized and accessible care for chronic NCDs at primary care facilities.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work with PEN-Plus and ISF-based implementation has shown promise in improving NCD management in primary care in similar settings, though results vary by context.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Presenting with chronic NCDs Exclusion Criteria: * Refusing to be followed up prospectively for routine visits
Where it's running
-
Matero First Level Hospital
Lusaka, Lusaka Province, Zambia Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Fastone Mathew Goma, MB ChB — Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia
- Study coordinator: Bupe Sichalwe, ADULT EDUCATION
- Email: bupe.sichalwe@cidrz.org
- Phone: 977401513
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.