International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 21(1), January 2006, pp.77-85.
Publisher:
Wiley
This study considered the nature of current practice among multi-disciplinary and single discipline health and social care teams providing a service to people with dementia and compare the quality of service offered. A postal survey of professional community teams in North West England, providing services to people with dementia was conducted. Responses were analysed according to a number of standards measuring service quality, developed from research and policy documents. A response rate of 59% yielded a final sample of 52 teams. Multi-disciplinary teams scored more highly than single discipline teams on many of the measures used. Single discipline teams achieved a higher score on just one measure, culturally sensitive services. Generally teams were found to provide a more integrated, targeted and person-centred service, as measured in this study, compared with earlier findings. Teams performed less well on measures of flexibility and culturally sensitive provision. The findings indicate some potential gains from integration, and highlight the level of work still needed to achieve it. The authors call for further research to build on the structural and process measures used in this research in order that the costs and outcomes consequent upon these practices can be measured.
This study considered the nature of current practice among multi-disciplinary and single discipline health and social care teams providing a service to people with dementia and compare the quality of service offered. A postal survey of professional community teams in North West England, providing services to people with dementia was conducted. Responses were analysed according to a number of standards measuring service quality, developed from research and policy documents. A response rate of 59% yielded a final sample of 52 teams. Multi-disciplinary teams scored more highly than single discipline teams on many of the measures used. Single discipline teams achieved a higher score on just one measure, culturally sensitive services. Generally teams were found to provide a more integrated, targeted and person-centred service, as measured in this study, compared with earlier findings. Teams performed less well on measures of flexibility and culturally sensitive provision. The findings indicate some potential gains from integration, and highlight the level of work still needed to achieve it. The authors call for further research to build on the structural and process measures used in this research in order that the costs and outcomes consequent upon these practices can be measured.
Subject terms:
integrated services, interprofessional relations, multidisciplinary services, older people, quality assurance, social care professionals, standards, teams, access to services, assessment, community mental health teams, dementia, health professionals, multidisciplinary teams;