Assessing health and social care needs of chronic patients in rural areas: Protocol for the CAMP mixed-methods observational study

Chronic diseases remain one of the most pressing public health challenges in Europe, disproportionately affecting older adults and residents of rural and underserved areas. Structural barriers to healthcare access, insufficient social support networks, and fragmented service delivery models amplify health disparities in these communities. In response, proximity-based and integrated care models have emerged as promising strategies, especially under national initiatives such as Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The CAMP (Chronic health Assessment and Mapping of Proximity needs) study is a cross-sectional, observational, non-interventional protocol designed to identify and characterize the unmet health and social care needs of adults living with chronic conditions in rural areas of Southern Italy. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study integrates standardized quantitative tools-the SF-36, EQ-5D, Barthel Index, and MSPSS-with semi-structured interviews to assess quality of life, functional autonomy, access barriers, and perceived social support. The study population includes adults aged ≥18 years with at least one chronic condition, recruited through general practitioners and social services. Descriptive and multivariate analyses will be used to explore associations between clinical and social variables, while thematic analysis will be applied to qualitative data. Expected outcomes include a comprehensive mapping of service gaps and resource distribution, as well as feasibility assessments for implementing community hospitals and telemedicine models. The findings will inform evidence-based territorial health planning and contribute to shaping more equitable and integrated care strategies for vulnerable populations. This protocol was preregistered on the Open Science Framework on May 26, 2025 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/YHD87).