Engaging Coaching Outreach for Resilience in the Age of Chronic Fatigue: Education, Management and Empowerment for Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)/ ENCOURAGE-ME

Chronic fatigue-related illnesses, including myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), are becoming more common. These conditions cause extreme tiredness and other symptoms that greatly reduce a person's quality of life. Patients often struggle with physical, mental, and emotional challenges. Many also face difficulties finding the right care because this disease is underrecognized and services are fragmented. This is why the ENCOURAGE-ME project was created.

The goal of the project is to propose a new care model for people with ME/CFS. This model can be adapted to help people with other chronic fatigue-related conditions. It will combine different types of support to make care more effective and easier to access. The project focuses on coaching as a key tool to help patients and healthcare professionals work better together.

Aim and activity description:

1. Develop an adaptable care model for ME/CFS patients that addresses their unique needs – Digitally-assisted Health Coaching Pathway (DHCP) model; 
2. Facilitate patient and stakeholder engagement in co-design;
3. Investigate the role of cognitive health coaching on patient outcomes, and its remote opportunities; 
4. Support occupational participation and reduce work-related barriers for ME/CFS patients; 
5. Explore remote monitoring technologies for symptom tracking and self-management;
6. Deploy a digital platform for patient storytelling and momentary health status assessment to enhance patient engagement, self-awareness, and real-time care insights. 
    

Project Coordinator: 

Rīga Stradiņš university (RSU), Rīga, Latvia

Project partners:

University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, BC, Canada
Prague University, Prague, Czech Republic
Paris Est-Creteil University (UPEC), Creteil, France
National Research Council of Italy – Institute for Microelectronics and Microsystems (CNR-IMM), Lecce, Italy