Elements and Performance Indicators of Integrated Healthcare Programmes on Chronic Diseases in the Asia-Pacific Region

Background and Aims: Globally, hospital-based healthcare models targeting acute
care, are not effective in addressing chronic conditions. Integrated care programmes
for chronic diseases have been widely developed and implemented in Europe and
North America and to a much lesser extent in the Asia-Pacific region to meet such
challenges. We completed a scoping review aiming to examine the elements of
programmes identified in the literature from select study countries in the Asia-Pacific,
and discuss important facilitators and barriers for design and implementation.
Methods: The study design adopted a scoping review approach. Integrated care
programmes in the study countries were searched in electronic databases using a
developed search strategy and key words. Elements of care integration, barriers and
facilitators were identified and charted following the Chronic Care Model (CCM).
Results: Overall the study found a total of 87 integrated care programmes for chronic
diseases in all countries, with 44 in China, 21 in Singapore, 12 in India, 5 in Vietnam,
4 in the Philippines and 1 in Fiji. Financial incentives were found to play a crucial role
in facilitating integrated care and ensuring the sustainability of programmes. In many
cases, the performance of programmes was found not to have been adequately
assessed.
Conclusion: Integrated care is important for addressing the challenges surrounding
the delivery of long-term care and there is an increasing trend of integrated care
programmes for chronic diseases in the Asia-Pacific. Evaluating the performance of
integrated care programmes is crucial for developing strategies for implementing
future programmes and improving already existing programmes.