Mapping Evidence of Patients’ Experiences in Integrated Care: A Scoping Review

Abstract

ObjectivesDespite the established clinical and cost-effectiveness of integrated care (IC) models for patients with comorbid mental and physical illness, little is known about whether these models facilitate a better care experience from the patient's perspective. The authors conducted a scoping review of the literature to explore how IC influences patients' care experiences. MethodsMEDLINE, EMBASE, PSYC INFO CINAHL, AMED, the Cochrane Library, and grey literature were searched to identify relevant articles. Eligible studies were systematically reviewed and analyzed, using thematic analysis approach, to identify patterns, trends, and variation in patient experience within IC settings. ResultsSearch results yielded 5250 unique resources of which 21 primary studies met our eligibility criteria for analysis. Findings from this scoping review revealed variation in patients' experiences in IC settings. IC models enhanced patients' experience by creating theraputic spaces: improving patient access to care, developing collaborative relationships, and personalizing patient care to address individual needs. ConclusionProductive interactions with care team were key to improve patient engagement and experience of centeredness in IC settings. Successful implementation of IC demanded purposeful alignment of IC structural components and care processes to create therapeutic spaces that address patient care needs and preferences.