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