Primary Healthcare Competencies Needed in the Management of Integrated and Person-centred Care for Chronic Illness and Multimorbidity

Abstract

Background: Chronic disease management is important in primary care. Disease management programs focus primarily on the disease. The occurrence of multimorbidity and social problems is addressed to a limited extent. Person-centred integrated care as an alternative approach empowers patients to become active participants. In this scoping review we explore necessary competencies for healthcare professionals working in collaborative teams where the main focus lies within the concept of person-centred integrated careMethods: Six literature databases and grey literature were searched for guidelines and peer-reviewed articles. A thematic synthesis was carried out to highlight healthcare professionals competencies that are needed to deliver person-centred integrated care.Results: Four guidelines and 21 studies were included to identified four themes; interprofessional communication, interprofessional collaborative teamwork, leadership and patient-centred communication. Included papers lack a description of competencies core concepts, such as healthcare professionals knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for a person-centred integrated care approach or details on how these competencies can be acquired.Conclusion: This review provides an integrative view on competencies necessary to provide person-centred integrated care within primary care. Details on core concepts of these competencies are lacking. More research is needed, on competencies and educational programs to ensure healthcare professionals in primary care are better equipped to deliver person-centred integrated care for chronic ill patients.