In most countries, the demand for integrated care for people with chronic diseases is increasing as the population ages. This demand requires a fundamental shift of health-care systems towards more integrated service delivery models. To achieve this shift in China, the World Health Organization, the World Bank and the Chinese government proposed a tiered health-care delivery system in accordance with a people-centred integrated care model. The approach was pioneered in Luohu district of Shenzhen city from 2015 to 2017 as a template for practice. In September 2017, China's health ministry introduced this approach to people-centred integrated care to the entire country. We describe the features of the Luohu model in relation to the core action areas and implementation strategies proposed and we summarize data from an evaluation of the first two years of the programme. We discuss the challenges faced during implementation and the lessons learnt from it for other health-care systems. We consider how to improve collaboration between institutions, how to change the population's behaviour about using community health services as the first point of contact and how to manage resources effectively to avoid budget deficits. Finally, we outline next steps of the Luohu model and its potential application to strengthen health care in other urban health-care systems.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between integrated care and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a primary care practice population.DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey study.SETTING: Primary care practice population.PARTICIPANTS: A sample (n=5562) of patients in two general practitioner practices in the Netherlands.PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The Rainbow Model of Integrated Care Measurement Tool patient version and EQ-5D was used to assess integrated service delivery and HRQOL. The association between integrated care and HRQOL groups was analysed using multivariate logistic regression.RESULTS: Overall, 933 respondents with a mean age of 62 participated (20% response rate) in this study. The multivariate analysis revealed that positive organisational coordination experiences were linked to better HRQOL (OR=1.87, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.95), and less anxiety and depression problems (OR=0.36, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.63). Unemployment was associated with a poor HRQOL (OR=0.15, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.28). Ageing was associated with more mobility (OR=1.06, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.09), self-care (OR=1.06, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.11), usual activity (OR=1.03, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.05) and pain problems (OR=1.02, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.04). Being married improved the overall HRQOL (OR=1.60, 95% CI 1.13 to 2.26) and decreased anxiety and depression (OR=0.47, 95% CI 0.31 to 0.72). Finally, females had a poor overall HRQOL (OR=1.67, 95% CI 0.48 to 0.93) and more pain and discomfort problems (OR=1.47, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.95).CONCLUSION: This study shows for the first time that organisational coordination activities are positively associated with HROQL of adult patients in a primary care context, adding to the evidence of an association between integrated care and HRQOL. Also, unemployment, ageing and being female are accumulating risk factors that should be considered when designing integrated primary care programmes. Further research is needed to explore how various integration types relate to HRQOL for people in local communities.
Binnen het Raak Pro project ‘Praten kan ik niet …, maar communiceren wil ik wel’ hebben we onderzoek gedaan naar het gebruik van Communicatie Ondersteunende Hulpmiddelen (COH) bij kinderen/jongeren met ernstige communicatieve en meervoudige beperkingen. Het ging om kinderen/jongeren die niet, nauwelijks of zeer slecht verstaanbaar spreken vanwege hun meervoudige beperkingen. We onderzochten hoe zij en mensen in hun omgeving, bijvoorbeeld ouders, leraren en/of behandelaars geholpen konden worden bij het zoeken, selecteren en inzetten van de best passende en meest adequate hulpmiddelen om de communicatie van het kind/de jongere te ondersteunen en verder te ontwikkelen. Goede, optimaal aangepaste hulmiddelen, methoden en technieken voor communicatieondersteuning vergroten de mogelijkheden en kansen van deze kinderen en jongeren om meer (zelf)redzaam te worden, meer regie te hebben over eigen kwaliteit van leven en meer succesvol deel te nemen aan verschillende activiteiten in allerlei sociale en maatschappelijke contexten: thuis, op school, in dagbesteding of werk en in de vrije tijd. Hiervoor is een Routekaart ontwikkeld. Onderdeel van de Routekaart is het proces van assessment waarin onderzocht wordt welke barrières/functioneringsproblemen het kind/de jongere ervaart bij het communiceren met anderen; wat zijn/haar behoeften en wensen zijn wat betreft het communiceren en welke mogelijkheden de persoon heeft om, eventueel met behulp van een COH, te kunnen communiceren in alledaagse levenssituaties.
