Do integrated care structures foster processes of integration? A quasi-experimental study in frail elderly care from the professional perspective.

<bold>Objective: </bold>This study explores the processes of integration that are assumed to underlie integrated care delivery.<bold>Design: </bold>A quasi-experimental design with a control group was used; a new instrument was developed to measure integration from the professional perspective.<bold>Setting and Participants: </bold>Professionals from primary care practices and home-care organizations delivering care to the frail elderly in the Walcheren region of the Netherlands.<bold>Intervention: </bold>An integrated care intervention specifically targeting frail elderly patients was implemented.<bold>Main Outcome Measures: </bold>Structural, cultural, social and strategic integration and satisfaction with integration.<bold>Results: </bold>The intervention significantly improved structural, cultural and social integration, agreement on goals, interests, power and resources and satisfaction with integration.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>This study confirms that integrated care structures foster processes of integration among professionals.<bold>Trial Registration: </bold>Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN05748494. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]