Values of Integrated Care: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Health Services Research
• Organizational Behavior

Background:

• Limited understanding of drivers in integrated care networks hinders progress.
• Need for deeper insight into decision-making, collaboration, and governance.
• Existing knowledge requires a defined set of underlying values.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and define the core values of integrated care.
• To provide a foundation for a values-driven approach to integrated care.
• To enhance understanding of integrated care network dynamics.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review to identify integrated care values.
• Application of values theory as a theoretical framework.
• Analysis of current body of knowledge on integrated care.

Main Results:

• Identification of 23 distinct values within integrated care literature.
• Key values include: collaborative, co-ordinated, transparent, empowering, comprehensive, co-produced, and shared responsibility/accountability.
• Prevalence of specific values quantified from reviewed sources.

Conclusions:

• A set of values provides a basis for a values-driven integrated care approach.
• This approach can improve understanding of behaviors and collaboration.
• Values can inform guidance, governance, and future research agendas for integrated care.