Facilitators and Barriers of Integrated Care for Older Adults with Multimorbidity: A Descriptive Qualitative Study.

Objective of this study was to identify factors that impact the successful implementation of integrated care for older adults with multimorbidity in China.Patients and Methods: From July 2022 to May 2023, 33 healthcare providers and managers involved in the delivery and management of healthcare services for older adults with multimorbidity were recruited from Zhejiang Province, China using purposeful and maximum variation sampling methods. Semi-structured, face-to-face in-depth interviews were conducted by the same interviewer in the participants' native Chinese language until data saturation was reached. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze the data, and then, themes were mapped onto six dimensions using the Rainbow Model of Integrated Care to allow for a comprehensive view of the study's findings.Results: Eleven themes were generated as facilitators and barriers to integrated care for older adults with multimorbidity in China. These themes include (1) clinical integration: patient-centered care, (2) professional integration: interdisciplinary teams and training, (3) organizational integration: resources and accessibility, (4) system integration: community and funds, incentives, and health insurance, (5) functional integration: electronic health record systems, workforce, and guidelines, and (6) normative integration: shared mission.Conclusion: Guided by the Rainbow Model of Integrated Care, various factors at both micro, meso, and macro levels that impact the implementation of integrated care for older adults with multimorbidity in the Chinese context have been identified in this study. The strategies for future interventions and policies should focus on promoting facilitators and addressing barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]