The potential for integrated care programmes to improve quality of care as assessed by patients with COPD: early results from a real-world implementation study in The Netherlands

Authors

  • Jane Murray Cramm institute of Health Policy and Management Erasmus University Rotterdam
  • Maureen PMH Rutten-Van Mölken Erasmus University Rotterdam Institute of Health Policy & Management
  • Anna Petra Nieboer Erasmus University Rotterdam Institute of Health Policy & Management

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.836

Keywords:

chronic care, integrated care, disease management, COPD, chronic care model

Abstract

Objective: We investigated whether patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) who were enrolled in disease-management programmes (DMPs) felt that they received a better quality of care than non-enrolled COPD patients. 

Methods: Our cross-sectional study was performed among patients (n = 665) enrolled in four DMPs in The Netherlands. We also evaluated COPD patients (n = 227) not enrolled in such programmes. Patients' assessment of chronic-illness care (PACIC) was measured with a 20-item questionnaire. The instrument had five pre-defined domains: patient activation (three items), delivery-system/practice design (three items), goal setting/tailoring (five items), problem solving/contextual (four items), and follow-up/coordination (five items). 

Results: The mean overall PACIC score (scale: 1-5) of enrolled DMP patients was 2.94, and that of non-enrolled DMP patients was 2.73 (p ≤ 0.01). Differences in the same direction were found in the subscales of patient activation (p ≤ 0.01), delivery-system/practice design (p ≤ 0.001), and problem solving/contextual (p ≤ 0.001). 

Conclusions: Our results suggest that even in the early stages of implementation, DMPs for COPD may significantly improve care.

Author Biography

Jane Murray Cramm, institute of Health Policy and Management Erasmus University Rotterdam

Jane Murray Cramm Ph.D.
Erasmus University Rotterdam
Institute of Health Policy & Management
P.O. Box 1738
3000 DR Rotterdam, NL
Phone + 31 06 36109268
Fax   + 31 10 408 9094
Building/room J6-045

http://oldwww.bmg.eur.nl/personal/cramm/

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Published

2012-09-18

Issue

Section

Research & theory