Integrated care in Western Europe: a wise solution for the future?

Integrated care (IC) is a term commonly adopted across the world underpinning a positive attitude against fragmentation of healthcare service provision. While the principles supporting IC are simple, their implementation is more controversial.

Framework for countries to achieve an integrated continuum of long-term care

The framework for countries to achieve an integrated continuum of long-term care identifies key aspects necessary to achieve an integrated continuum of long-term care service provision and to facilitate the integration of long-term services within existing health and social care systems.

The framework will guide countries in assessing system-level components to implement sustainable and equitable long-term care actions. By applying this framework, countries can begin to develop and shape their long-term care systems as part of their universal health coverage programmes and promote investment in long-term care and the health workforce, including carers.

Download framework

Nurses’ perceived barriers to the delivery of person-centred care to complex patients: A qualitative study using theoretical domains framework

Complex patients have multiple physical and mental health problems, and their life is also greatly affected by sociocultural and economic determinants of health. These patients require person-centred care, but nurses often find it challenging to provide effective care to these patients due to their complex health needs. This study aims to determine nurses’ perceived barriers to the delivery of person-centred care to complex patients with multiple chronic conditions in acute care settings.

Integrated Care for Multimorbidity Population in Asian Countries: A Scoping Review

The complex needs of patients with multiple chronic diseases call for integrated care (IC). This scoping review examines several published Asian IC programmes and their relevant components and elements in managing multimorbidity patients. In the IC programmes for patients with multimorbidity in Asia, service delivery, leadership, and workforce were most frequently mentioned, while the financing component was least mentioned.

Inequalities in Older age and Primary Health Care Utilization in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

The objective of this research was to systematically review and synthesize quantitative studies that assessed the association between socioeconomic inequalities and primary health care (PHC) utilization among older people living in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). Most studies reported that higher income, higher educational levels and enrollment in health insurance plans were associated with increased PHC utilization. Several studies suggested that people who were unemployed and economically inactive in older age or who had worked in formal sectors were more likely to use PHC. Our findings suggest a pro-rich phenomenon of PHC utilization in older people living in LMICs ...

A mixed-method study on the provision of remote consultations for non-communicable disease patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia: lessons for the future

he COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the ability of healthcare systems to ensure the continuity of health services for patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The issue of remote consultations has emerged. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, remote consultations were not routinely provided or covered by public health funding in Latvia. This study aimed to describe the dynamics of consultations and the volume of remote consultations provided for patients with particular NCD and explore clinicians’ experiences of providing remote consultations during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Latvia.

Modified scoping review of the enablers and barriers to implementing primary health care in the COVID-19 context

Since the Alma Ata Declaration of 1978, countries have varied in their progress towards establishing and sustaining comprehensive primary health care (PHC) and realizing its associated vision of 'Health for All'. International health emergencies such as the coronavirus-19 (COVID-19) pandemic underscore the importance of PHC in underpinning health equity, including via access to routine essential services and emergency responsiveness. This review synthesizes the current state of knowledge about PHC impacts, implementation enablers and barriers, and knowledge gaps across the three main PHC components as conceptualized in the 2018 Astana Framework.

The Effect of Integration of Family Planning Into HIV Services on Contraceptive Use Among Women Accessing HIV Services in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

There is substantial unmet need for family planning (FP) among women living with HIV (WLHIV), leading to unintended pregnancies and may contribute indirectly to increasing the risk of transmission of HIV. This review aims to determine whether integration of FP into HIV testing and care results in increased use of contraception, a reduction in unmet need for FP, improved use of safer conception methods and a reduction in unintended pregnancies in low and middle-income countries. The primary outcome of the review was contraceptive uptake and secondary outcomes included unmet need for FP, safer conception and unintended pregnancy.

Integrating mental health into primary care: evaluation of the Health Action for Psychiatric Problems In Nigeria including Epilepsy and SubstanceS (HAPPINESS) pilot project

The Health Action for Psychiatric Problems In Nigeria including Epilepsy and SubstanceS (HAPPINESS) project trains non-specialist and primary health care workers in Imo State, Nigeria. This project adapted the World Health Organization’s Mental Health Gap Action Programme-Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG), emphasizing stigma reduction among trainees. This convergent mixed-methods proof-of-concept study evaluates the HAPPINESS pilot project mhGAP-IG training’s impact on mental illness stigma among trainees and barriers, facilitators, and opportunities to consider for project improvement.

The European Health Data Space: A step towards digital and integrated care systems

In December 2021, EGIDE, the Expert Group for integrated Care and Digital Health Europe, has launched a paper ‘The European Health Data Space: A step towards digital and integrated care systems’.

The paper aims to represent the views of the chronic disease community. It provides a unique combination of perspectives from academia, healthcare professionals, patients and industry. The authors acknowledge too many patients across Europe are experiencing fragmented and delayed care. COVID-19 has highlighted the weaknesses of our healthcare systems and the need for rapid transformation. The European Health Data Space can act as a catalyst for change in several ...