Clarifying model for continuity of care: A concept analysis.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Research
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Continuity of care is often confused with coordination and communication.
• Understanding continuity is crucial for improving the hospitalization-postdischarge continuum.
• This study focuses on continuity within acute care hospitalization and discharge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To clarify the concept of continuity of care in acute hospitalization and discharge.
• To differentiate continuity from related concepts like coordination and communication.
• To develop a model for understanding continuity in patient transitions.

Main Methods:

• Concept analysis using Rodgers' evolutionary method.
• Literature search across Medline, Cochrane Library, Cinahl, and Google Scholar (2001-2016).
• Inclusion of 50 relevant papers for analysis.

Main Results:

• A model of continuity of care was developed.
• The model shows the interdependence of time, setting, patient-provider relationships, communication, and coordination.
• These elements are critical within discharge transitions.

Conclusions:

• The developed continuity model offers a framework for designing interventions.
• Interventions can be interdisciplinary, integrated, and multicomponent.
• This framework aids in testing interventions' impact on patient care and outcomes.