May 29, 2024 – Duke Kunshan University (DKU) and the Kunshan Municipal Health Commission officially launched the “CEEEC“ research project, a collaborative effort to explore innovative approaches to non-communicable chronic disease (NCD) management at the community level.
Titled “Community-Empowerment and Environmental Enrichment-based Co-management (CEEEC) Model and Mechanisms for Improving Health of Older Stroke Patients with Multimorbidity,” the project is part of the 2024 strategic partnership between DKU and the Kunshan Health Commission.
It aims to develop a multidimensional health intervention model tailored to China’s primary healthcare system, thereby enhancing comprehensive NCD management for the elderly population, especially for stroke patients with multiple comorbidities, and promoting healthy aging.
Mr. Guohua Qian, Director of the Kunshan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, emphasized the groundbreaking nature of the initiative. “This project introduces internationally recognized concepts of ‘community empowerment’ and ‘environmental enrichment’ into local practice for the first time,” he said.
“Community health centers must ensure ‘three key elements’—awareness, implementation, and evaluation—to translate scientific evidence into tangible health benefits for patients.”
He urged all participating institutions to collaborate closely, striving to establish a replicable and sustainable “Kunshan Model” for primary chronic disease management, contributing to China’s national “Healthy China” strategy.
Professor Shenglan Tang, Co-Director of DKU’s Global Health Research Center, highlighted the university’s role in advancing the project.
“DKU will leverage its research expertise to conduct high-quality studies, strengthen partnerships with Kunshan’s health system and stakeholders, and transform findings into sustainable community health solutions,” he stated. “Our goal is to empower communities, serve residents, and support healthy aging.”
“Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability in China, particularly prevalent among the elderly, who often suffer from multiple comorbidities. Preliminary studies have provided initial evidence supporting the effectiveness of two key strategies: ‘community empowerment’ and ‘environmental enrichment.’ This research integrates both approaches, employing a factorial cluster randomized controlled trial design. Interventions will be implemented at the cluster level, with family doctor teams (and their managed patients) as the randomized units, to explore a new multidimensional model for primary multiple comorbidities management.”
— Professor Lijing Yan
Head of NCDs Research
Global Health Research Center
Duke Kunshan University
Professor Lijing Yan, the project’s principal investigator, outlined the “Empower-Enrich” framework, as well as its objectives, significance, and implementation pathways. The research team further explained the key components, including patient screening, recruitment protocols, baseline surveys, and fitness assessments, followed by an interactive discussion and a fitness assessment demonstration. Attendees actively exchanged ideas on project execution, finalizing timelines, responsibilities, and communication strategies.
The launch event, held at the Kunshan Public Health Center, brought together over 80 participants, including representatives from DKU’s Global Health Research Center, Kunshan Health Commission, Kunshan CDC, Community Health Management Center, and leaders from eight local community health centers, along with family doctors and nurses. The session was chaired by Donglin Xue, Director of the Community Health Management Center and Head of the Health Commission’s Primary Care Division.
Head of the Health Commission’s Primary Care Division
Written by Yawen Sun
