Longitudinal multiple case study on effectiveness of network-based dementia care towards more integration, quality of care, and collaboration in primary care

Anke Richters; Minke S Nieuwboer; Marcel G M Olde Rikkert; Rene J F Melis; Marieke Perry; Marjolein A van der Marck

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0198811

Longitudinal multiple case study on effectiveness of network-based dementia care towards more integration, quality of care, and collaboration in primary care

PLoS One. 2018 Jun 27;13(6):e0198811. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198811. eCollection 2018.

Authors

Anke Richters^{1

2

3}, Minke S Nieuwboer^{2

3}, Marcel G M Olde Rikkert^{1

2

3}, Rene J F Melis^{2

3

4}, Marieke Perry^{1

2

3}, Marjolein A van der Marck^{2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Radboud university medical center, Donders Institute for Brain Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
² Radboud university medical center, Radboudumc Alzheimer Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
³ Radboud university medical center, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
⁴ Radboud university medical center, Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Department of Geriatric Medicine, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to provide insight into the merits of DementiaNet, a network-based primary care innovation for community-dwelling dementia patients.

Methods: Longitudinal mixed methods multiple case study including 13 networks of primary care professionals as cases. Data collection comprised continuously-kept logs; yearly network maturity score (range 0-24), yearly quality of care assessment (quality indicators, 0-100), and in-depth interviews.

Results: Networks consisted of median nine professionals (range 5-22) covering medical, care and welfare disciplines. Their follow-up was 1-2 years. Average yearly increase was 2.03 (95%-CI:1.20-2.96) on network maturity and 8.45 (95%-CI:2.80-14.69) on quality indicator score. High primary care practice involvement and strong leadership proved essential in the transition towards more mature networks with better quality of care.

Discussion: Progress towards more mature networks favored quality of care improvements. DementiaNet appeared to be effective to realize transition towards network-based care, enhance multidisciplinary collaboration, and improve quality of dementia care.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Dementia*
Humans
Intersectoral Collaboration*
Longitudinal Studies
Primary Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
Quality of Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
Systems Integration

Grants and funding

This study was funded by Alzheimer Nederland (project number WE.09-2013-04 to MOR). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.