Elements and Performance Indicators of Integrated Healthcare Programmes on Chronic Diseases in Six Countries in the Asia-Pacific Region: A Scoping Review

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.