Developing a Programme Theory of Integrated Care
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Developing a programme theory of integrated care: the effectiveness of Lincolnshire's multidisciplinary Neighbourhood Teams in supporting older people with multimorbidity.
IRAS ID
210575
Contact name
Janet Walker
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Lincoln
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
The NHS and social care are faced with the challenge of providing high quality, user-centred care, in an environment dominated by an ageing population with increasing numbers of long-term conditions and complex care needs; the majority of older people (those aged 65 and over) reporting multimorbidity. Such care is being delivered in a time of unprecedented economic restraint. One policy response to manage such demand is the mandated requirement that health and social care are bought together (integrated) to ensure a ‘seamless’ care pathway; improving older people’s quality of life and reducing inappropriate service use. Despite the dominant discourse that integrated care will deliver improved user outcomes, existing literature and evaluations suggest the evidence-base is far from conclusive.
If we are to provide robust evidence that can further support the integration of health and social care, it is first necessary to build a programme theory, emerging and exploring the components of effective models. We will work alongside six ‘Neighbourhood Teams’ implemented by Lincolnshire NHS. Our overarching aim will be to assess the mechanism and effectiveness of integrated Neighbourhood Teams in supporting older people with multimorbidity. Four objectives have been identified: to develop a programme theory that emerges those transferable mechanisms relating to integrated structures and processes; to identify a typology of activity; to explore the impact of Neighbourhood Teams on system integration; and, finally to measure the effectiveness of the Neighbourhood Teams in improving older people’s quality of life.
Three workstreams (WS) will be applied, guided by the underpinning conceptual framework of ‘Realistic Evaluation’. We will carry out: a realist evidence synthesis, (WS1); semi-structured interviews with strategic and operational staff (n=80) and documentary analysis and process mapping (WS2); collect the views of 95 older people in each area through a structured questionnaire or interview (WS3.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EE/0385
Date of REC Opinion
13 Sep 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion