Integrated Literature Review of Continuity of Care: Part 1, Conceptual Issues

Abstract

No consensus was found in the literature about the conceptual definition of continuity of care. Continuity of patient care is a multifactorial concept affected by environmental influences, communication, patient, professional, and system factors.

Women׳s views about maternity care: How do women conceptualise the process of continuity?

“…It particularly emphasised relational continuity, that is, the importance of an ongoing relationship between a patient and one or more care providers (J. , characterised by personal trust and responsibility (Baker, et al, 2007;Freeman & Hjortdahl, 1997). Today, the healthcare system promotes continuity as a core organisational value affected by environmental influences, communication, patient, professional and system factors (Sparbel & Anderson, 2000).…”

Managing under managed community care: the experiences of clients, providers and managers in Ontario’s competitive home care sector

“…To develop sound measures that allow their precise measurement, the processes and outcomes involved in home care need careful definition. Attempts to reach conceptual clarity about the dimensions of continuity of care have resulted in a range of definitions and terms to describe continuity in different service delivery contexts and from different professional and patient perspectives [7][8][9]. Central to these are the elements of consistency (in provider and/or service), progression towards a defined outcome of care; coordinated information transfer and on-going relationships.…”

Pratiques fondées sur les données probantes en travail social : un débat émergent1

“…De façon générale, les diverses initiatives visant à soutenir l'intégration des services considèrent la continuité des soins et des services comme étant d'abord une question d'organisation institutionnelle et sectorielle (Sparbel et Anderson, 2000) qui exige diverses formes de coordination de l'action professionnelle. Les prémisses qui sous-tendent la plupart des travaux sur la continuité sont donc, premièrement, que les déterminants organisationnels ou programmatiques amènent les divers professionnels à travailler ensemble, et, deuxièmement, qu'une meilleure configuration de l'organisation des services permet d'éviter les bris de continuité.…”