Realigning theory with evidence to understand the role of care coordination in mental health services research
This new theoretical model addressing a key gap in existing frameworks is an important conceptual advance. It provides an actionable roadmap for much-needed research to elucidate how care coordination can be optimized to improve mental healthcare quality, equity and outcomes in practice. The model's real-world focus makes it highly relevant for designing studies that can directly inform mental health policy and service delivery.
College of Health researcher(s)
Abstract
Current theoretical models intended to guide health services research and evaluation lack care coordination-its features and impacts. These aspects are critical for understanding the role of care coordination in healthcare use, quality, and outcomes. In this Focus article, we briefly review the well-known Andersen individual behavioral model (IBM) of healthcare use and the Donabedian health system and quality model (HSQM) together with recent practice-based evidence. We propose a new integrated theoretical model of healthcare and care coordination. The model can serve as a guide for future research to better understand the variation in care coordination services and delivery and its added value to improving mental health in different real-world settings.