Developing an analytical framework for the analysis of national and local governance processes in integrated care

INTRODUCTION: Transferring successful policy concepts between countries has proved to be difficult. Neo-institutional concepts are helpful to understand governance processes within their contexts. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The study aimed at developing generalisable tools—usable for researchers as well as managers or policy-makers—for the analysis and comparison of diverse governance situations regarding integrated care. METHODS: Outcomes of a transnational comparative project on national and local governance processes regarding integrated (dementia) care in England and The Netherlands were analysed with the help of neo-institutionalist concepts. Specific outcomes were turned into generalised questions to build a theoretical and empirical framework for comparative research and policy on governance processes for integrated care. RESULTS: Neo-institutional concepts allow framing structural and cultural institutional contexts which give shape to governance processes for integrated care. Models and guiding questions were developed for the description and analysis of (1) national and (2) local governance processes for integrated care. CONCLUSIONS: Although governance processes regarding integrated care are complex and diverse, it is possible to conceptualise such processes in a general way so as to enhance the comparability and transferability of research outcomes from various countries. Further research is needed to further develop the initial models proposed.