Visa Väisänen, Addiena Luke-Currier, Laura Hietapakka, Marko Elovainio and Timo Sinervo
This study aims to examine the associations of collaboration measured as social network characteristics with perceived job demands, job control and social support in primary…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the associations of collaboration measured as social network characteristics with perceived job demands, job control and social support in primary healthcare professionals.
Design/methodology/approach
A cross-sectional study design incorporating social network analysis was utilized. Wellbeing surveys with a network questionnaire were sent to care personnel (physicians, nurses and allied health workers) of Finnish primary healthcare in December 2022 (n = 96). Correlation coefficients and multivariate linear regression modeling were used to analyze the associations.
Findings
Higher level of collaboration (measured as number of connections in the network) was associated with lower perceived job demands and higher job control. Care professionals’ frequency of collaboration and proportion of connections with the same occupation (homophily) were borderline associated with social support, indicating further research needs. Larger professional networks, perhaps enabling better teamwork and sharing of workload or information, may directly or indirectly protect from job strain.
Practical implications
Work-related collaboration in primary care should be encouraged and large support networks need to be promoted further. Individuals, especially allied health workers, working in multiple locations or as a sole member of their occupation group in the work community need to be provided with adequate social support.
Originality/value
Social network analysis has been proposed as a tool to investigate care integration and collaboration, but direct analyses of network measures and validated wellbeing instruments have remained absent. This study illuminated the role of collaboration structures in work-related wellbeing of care professionals by showcasing the potential of social network analysis.
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Tiina Pesonen, Juhani Sulander, Hanna Tiirinki, Pekka Räsänen, Merja Sahlström, Ilmo Keskimäki and Timo Sinervo
Integrated care is the leading approach to developing health and social care services in Finland. After the national health and social care reform, the importance of assessing…
Abstract
Purpose
Integrated care is the leading approach to developing health and social care services in Finland. After the national health and social care reform, the importance of assessing integration has been emphasized. The aim of this study was to pilot the SCIROCCO tool, which assesses integration maturity, in Finland. The SCIROCCO tool was translated and adapted to the Finnish health and social care context. The feasibility and utility of this tool for assessing the maturity for integration across health and social care in Finland were evaluated using empirical pilot data collected among employees of selected well-being service counties. The study also provided baseline information on the maturity of integration after the national health and social care reform.
Design/methodology/approach
Employees (n = 111) of different personnel groups in health and social care services in four well-being service counties assessed the maturity of integration using a web-based survey. A pilot study design was used.
Findings
The SCIROCCO tool was found to be useful for assessing the maturity of integration in health and social care within the well-being service counties. However, the tool requires further development to be fully adapted to the Finnish health and social care system and to assess integration across sectors. The results emphasize the need to understand the perspectives of different personnel groups on integration and to consider them in the development work.
Originality/value
This was the first study conducted in Finland that provided valuable insights into the assessment of integration across the health and social care sectors. This study establishes the foundation for future research and development in the field of integration assessment.
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Samuli Tikkanen, Pekka Räsänen, Timo Sinervo, Ilmo Keskimäki, Merja Sahlström, Tiina Pesonen and Hanna Tiirinki
Health care integration is crucial in improving service equality and patient outcomes. However, measuring integration between the health and social care sectors remains…
Abstract
Purpose
Health care integration is crucial in improving service equality and patient outcomes. However, measuring integration between the health and social care sectors remains challenging. This article aims to review existing systematic models to identify alternative health and social care integration measurement tools. The review focuses on models that involve systematic planning and long-term cooperation across different organizational sectors.
Design/methodology/approach
The study examines various dimensions and elements of integration, including process, outcome and structural measures. It compares different tools used to measure social and health care integration, such as the Rainbow model, Balanced Scorecard (BSC) Scorecard, PRISMA, SCIROCCO, integRATE, health-data simulation (HSIM) and the model developed by Åhgren and Axelsson. The analysis includes both empirical studies and theoretical frameworks.
Findings
The findings highlight the importance of standardized measurement methods to assess the impact of integration initiatives on patient outcomes, healthcare costs and the quality of care.
Originality/value
The review contributes to the ongoing discourse on social and health care integration, particularly in the Nordic context. The results can inform social and healthcare providers, policymakers and researchers in evaluating and improving integration initiatives.
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Outi Jolanki, Liina-Kaisa Tynkkynen and Timo Sinervo
Integrated care policies have been at the heart of recent health reforms in many European countries. The purpose of this paper is to study the integration from the perspective of…
Abstract
Purpose
Integrated care policies have been at the heart of recent health reforms in many European countries. The purpose of this paper is to study the integration from the perspective of health care personnel working in primary health care clinics.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs data from interviews collected in a research project examining patient choice and integrated care in primary health care clinics in Finland. The interviews were conducted in five cities in Southern Finland in 17 primary health care clinics in Autumn 2014. Among the interviewees there were both doctors (n=32) and nurses (n=31).
Findings
The typical problems hindering integration were, according to the workers, poor communication and insufficient information exchange between professionals, unclear definition of responsibilities between professionals, and lacking contacts and information exchange between health and social care professionals. To secure availability and continuity of care, doctors and nurses did extra work and exceeded their duties or invented ad hoc solutions to solve the problem at hand. According to professionals, patients were forced to take an active role as coordinator of their own care when responsibilities were not clearly defined between professionals.
Originality/value
This paper highlights that successful integration requires taking into account the requirements of the day-to-day work of health care clinics, and clarifying what facilitates and what hinders practical collaboration between different actors in health care and between health care and other service providers.