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When meanings blur, do differences matter? Initiatives for improving the quality and integration of care: conceptual matrix or measurement maze?

Walid El Ansari (Professor of Public Health, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Gloucestershire, Gloucester, UK)

Journal of Integrated Care

ISSN: 1476-9018

Article publication date: 17 June 2011

483

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider some notions that are currently in use in integrated care, with the aim of exploring whether these notions improve the quality and integration of care.

Design/methodology/approach

Notions like “continuity of care”, “coordination of care”, “team‐working” and “partnerships” are some of the wide variety of terms increasingly employed within the range of initiatives and efforts that aim to enhance the quality of health and social care environments for patients and users. While each of these notions seems to represent a worthy cause in the quest for better care, and is accompanied by varying extents of evidence of its effectiveness, conceptual clarity of each notion remains a challenge. This paper undertook a detailed examination of what each of these notions comprises, how it is measured objectively and subjectively, whilst highlighting any apparent overlap between the notions.

Findings

From the analysis of the four notions, two main patterns of dysfunctional features emerged: the first pattern involved issues of multiple, imprecise and constricted definitions; the second pattern had to do with imprecise or conflicting assessments of how the different notions or dimensions thereof are related to one another.

Research limitations/implications

A review of the literature suggests that the meanings, and consequently the measurement, of these notions could benefit from less ambiguity in order to prevent confusion about what precisely is being implemented and measured.

Originality/value

In order that calls for quality improvement do not become slogan statements, there is an urgent need for integrated framework(s) that add clarity to an already compound web of notions. This could contribute to improving the quality of research and evidence base of this complex field.

Keywords

Citation

El Ansari, W. (2011), "When meanings blur, do differences matter? Initiatives for improving the quality and integration of care: conceptual matrix or measurement maze?", Journal of Integrated Care, Vol. 19 No. 3, pp. 5-21. https://doi.org/10.1108/14769011111148122

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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