<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec id="j_sjph-2021-0023_s_006">
<h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>Although the concept of integrated care for non-communicable diseases was introduced at the primary level to move from disease-centered to patient-centered care, it has only been partially implemented in European countries. The aim of this study was to identify and compare identified facilitators and barriers to scale-up this concept between Slovenia and Belgium.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_sjph-2021-0023_s_007">
<h3>Methods</h3>
<p>This was a qualitative study. Fifteen focus groups and fifty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders at the micro, meso and macro levels. In addition, data from two previously published studies were used for the analysis. Data collection and analysis was initially conducted at country level. Finally, the data was evaluated by a cross-country team to assess similarities and differences between countries.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_sjph-2021-0023_s_008">
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>Four topics were identified in the study: patient-centered care, teamwork, coordination of care and task delegation. Despite the different contexts, true teamwork and patient-centered care are limited in both countries by hierarchies and a very heavily skewed medical approach. The organization of primary healthcare in Slovenia probably facilitates the coordination of care, which is not the case in Belgium. The financing and organization of primary practices in Belgium was identified as a barrier to the implementation of task delegation between health professionals.</p>
</sec>
<sec id="j_sjph-2021-0023_s_009">
<h3>Conclusions</h3>
<p>This study allowed formulating some important concepts for future healthcare for non-communicable diseases at the level of primary healthcare. The results could provide useful insights for other countries with similar health systems.</p></sec></abstract>

Introduction
Although the concept of integrated care for non-communicable diseases was introduced at the primary level to move from disease-centered to patient-centered care, it has only been partially implemented in European countries. The aim of this study was to identify and compare identified facilitators and barriers to scale-up this concept between Slovenia and Belgium.


Methods
This was a qualitative study. Fifteen focus groups and fifty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders at the micro, meso and macro levels. In addition, data from two previously published studies were used for the analysis. Data collection and analysis was initially conducted at country level. Finally, the data was evaluated by a cross-country team to assess similarities and differences between countries.


Results
Four topics were identified in the study: patient-centered care, teamwork, coordination of care and task delegation. Despite the different contexts, true teamwork and patient-centered care are limited in both countries by hierarchies and a very heavily skewed medical approach. The organization of primary healthcare in Slovenia probably facilitates the coordination of care, which is not the case in Belgium. The financing and organization of primary practices in Belgium was identified as a barrier to the implementation of task delegation between health professionals.


Conclusions
This study allowed formulating some important concepts for future healthcare for non-communicable diseases at the level of primary healthcare. The results could provide useful insights for other countries with similar health systems.

Scaling-up an integrated care for patients with non-communicable diseases: An analysis of healthcare barriers and facilitators in Slovenia and Belgium

Slovenian Journal of Public Health

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Nadgradnja celostne oskrbe pacientov s kroničnimi nenalezljivimi boleznimi: Analiza spodbujevalcev in ovir v Sloveniji in Belgiji

Introduction
Although the concept of integrated care for non-communicable diseases was introduced at the primary level to move from disease-centered to...

Scaling-up an integrated care for patients with non-communicable diseases: An analysis of healthcare barriers and facilitators in Slovenia and Belgium

Article Category: Original scientific article

Publicado en línea: 28 jun 2021

Páginas: 158 - 166

Recibido: 23 dic 2020

Aceptado: 28 may 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2021-0023

Palabras clave
scale-up, noncommunicable diseases, patient-centered care, primary healthcare, integrated healthcare

© 2021 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Scaling-up an integrated care for patients with non-communicable diseases: An analysis of healthcare barriers and facilitators in Slovenia and Belgium

Article Category: Original scientific article

Publicado en línea: 28 jun 2021

Páginas: 158 - 166

Recibido: 23 dic 2020

Aceptado: 28 may 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2021-0023

Palabras clavescale-up, noncommunicable diseases, patient-centered care, primary healthcare, integrated healthcare

© 2021 National Institute of Public Health, Slovenia, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Palabras clave
scale-up, noncommunicable diseases, patient-centered care, primary healthcare, integrated healthcare