Enhancing patient-centered care: pilot study results of a community care team intervention

West J Nurs Res. 2014 Jan;36(1):47-65. doi: 10.1177/0193945913490841. Epub 2013 Jun 3.

Abstract

Health care reform focuses on primary care and development of Health Care Homes to improve patient-centered chronic illness care. This pilot study evaluated a community care team intervention that linked chronically ill older patients, support persons, and nurse care coordinators from a Health Care Home with community resources using an adaptation of the Wraparound process. A pragmatic clinical trial design was used. Patient-centered chronic illness care; physical, mental, and social health; service use; and study feasibility were evaluated. Differences between groups were compared using two-sample t, Wilcoxon rank sum, chi-square, or Fisher's exact tests. At 3 months, the intervention group reported higher patient-centered chronic illness care (mean total Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care change scores were 0.39 for the intervention group and -0.11 for the control group, p = .03). Results indicate that the integrated community care team intervention is a promising strategy to support patient-centered chronic illness care.

Keywords: chronic illness; community services; nurse care coordination; primary health care; self-management support.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chronic Disease / therapy
  • Community Networks*
  • Health Services for the Aged
  • Humans
  • Patient-Centered Care / methods*
  • Pilot Projects