Community Health Centres as a model of care: contextualizing for Europe - a Delphi study

Area of Science:

• Primary Health Care Research
• Health Services Management
• European Public Health

Background:

• Community Health Centres (CHCs) are established models for comprehensive, equitable, and integrated primary care in Europe.
• A need exists to define CHCs within Europe's diverse healthcare systems despite their global presence.

Purpose of the Study:

• Develop a European definition for Community Health Centres (CHCs).
• Assess expert consensus on the acceptability and feasibility of the CHC model in Europe.
• Propose a common framework for CHC implementation across European countries.

Main Methods:

• A refined definition of CHCs was developed based on expert consultations.
• A two-round Delphi study involving 31 experts from 16 countries was conducted.
• A five-point Likert scale evaluated the acceptability and feasibility of 35 key statements.

Main Results:

• All 35 statements defining CHCs were rated as acceptable and feasible by experts.
• High ratings were given to human rights, accessibility, interprofessional collaboration, and people-centred care.
• Feasibility ratings improved in the second round, though governance and community participation aspects showed lower feasibility.

Conclusions:

• Broad expert consensus supports the relevance and adaptability of the CHC model in Europe.
• The proposed definition provides a foundation for strengthening primary care across diverse European contexts.
• Implementation challenges related to governance and collaboration require further attention.