EXPLORING CONTINUITY OF CARE IN INTEGRATED HEALTH CARE SETTINGS

Continuity of care is considered to be an important feature of high quality health care. It is a wide-ranging concept, that encompasses several different aspects of health care. However, it is not often evaluated explicitly, because of the lack of suitable measurement instruments. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify chronic patients' experiences and values associated to continuity in care. In order to accomplish this purpose a single focus group interview with 12 chronic ill patients has been carried. Collected responses were analysed thematically and grouped into dimensions of continuity of care. As a result of the study, eight dimensions of experienced continuity of care were identified: patients' involvement, decision-making support, cross-boundary continuity, coordination of activities, communication with the patient, problem solving, availability, and patient-centeredness. This study develops a patient-based framework for evaluating continuity of care. Is also identifies key transition points with problems of lack of continuity. This paper is part of the research project financed by National Science Centre in Poland ( No. 2012/05/B/HS/02213).