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Integrated health and social care in the community: a critical integrative review of the experiences and well-being needs of service users and their families.

Henderson, Louise; Bain, Heather; Allan, Elaine; Kennedy, Catriona

Authors

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Dr Louise Henderson l.c.henderson2@rgu.ac.uk
Head of Delivery & Development (BAC) ; Visiting Research Fellow (RGU).

Heather Bain

Elaine Allan



Abstract

A need for people-centred health and social support systems is acknowledged as a global priority. Most nations face challenges in providing safe, effective, timely, affordable, coordinated care around the needs and preferences of people who access integrated health and social care (IHSC) services. Much of the current research in the field focuses on describing and evaluating specific models for delivering IHSC. Fewer studies focus on person-centred experiences, needs and preferences of people who use these services. However, current international guidance for integrated care sets a precedence of person-centred integrated care that meets the health and well-being needs of people who access IHSC services. This integrative literature review synthesises empirical literature from six databases (CINAHL; MEDLINE; AMED; TRIP; Web of Science and Science Direct; 2007–2019). This review aims to better understand the experiences and health and well-being needs of people who use IHSC services in a community setting. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria and results were thematically analysed. Three overarching themes were identified, including relationships, promoting health and well-being and difficulty understanding systems. Findings of this review indicate that relationships hold significance in IHSC. People who access IHSC services felt that they were not always involved in planning their care and that there was a lack of clarity in navigating integrated systems; subsequently, this impacted upon their experiences of those services. However, service user and informal carer voices appear to be underrepresented in current literature and studies that included their views were found to be of low quality overall. Collectively, these findings support the need for further research that explores the person-centred experiences and needs of people who access IHSC.

Citation

HENDERSON, L., BAIN, H., ALLAN, E. and KENNEDY, C. 2021. Integrated health and social care in the community: a critical integrative review of the experiences and well-being needs of service users and their families. Health and social care in the community [online], 29(4), pages 1145-1168. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13179

Journal Article Type Review
Acceptance Date Sep 2, 2020
Online Publication Date Oct 15, 2020
Publication Date Jul 31, 2021
Deposit Date Sep 3, 2020
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Health and social care in the community
Print ISSN 0966-0410
Electronic ISSN 1365-2524
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 29
Issue 4
Pages 1145-1168
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.13179
Keywords Integrated health and social care; Community; Service user; Experience; Needs; Relationships
Public URL https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/965220