ICT-based person-centered community care platform (IPC3P) to enhance shared decision-making for integrated health and social care services

Abstract

BackgroundCommunity care is a care model with the aim of shifting care services from being hospital based toward community-based care. Advances in platforms based on information and communications technology (ICT) with a person-centered approach provide the potential to improve the delivery of health and social care services toward community-based settings. ObjectivesThe aims of this study were to describe the ICT-Based Person-Centered Community Care Platform (IPC3P) and to determine its impact on health- and social-care-related shared decision-making and quality of life among community residents. MethodsAn online platform was developed with the aim of enhancing community care. The platform had four components: (1) comprehensive health and social needs assessment system, (2) personalized community care planning, (3) needs-based health and social care services delivery, and (4) health community engagement. Community residents were invited to use and evaluate the impact of the IPC3P on their quality of life and shared decision-making regarding health and social care services. They provided feedback about the platform by completing two surveys: at baseline (before using the platform) and 6 months after using the platform. ResultsData of 164 community residents were analyzed in this study. Between baseline and after using the platform, the quality of life reported by the participants increased significantly in all domains, with clear improvements also noted for shared decision-making about health and social care services. The IPC3P received positive feedback from the participants for its usability, familiarity, and ease of use. Some participants also reported their desire for the addition of more functions that support health communities. ConclusionThe IPC3P has the potential to enhance the involvement of community residents in their own care. The findings of this study can be used to support the wider implementation of the IPC3P to promote person-centered community care.