Fostering integrated healthcare in rural Australia: A review of service models for older Australians with preventable chronic conditions

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
File version

Version of Record (VoR)

Author(s)
Hamiduzzaman, M
McLennan, V
Gaffney, H
Miles, S
Crook, S
Grove, L
Gray, M
Flood, V
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2025
Size
File type(s)
Location
Abstract

Our review examines the operational dynamics and effectiveness of integrated healthcare models in Australia, focusing on their relevance for older rural adults with preventable chronic diseases. Using Whittemore and Knafl's (2005) systematic integrative review methods, we conducted a search across five databases, including Medline-EBSCO, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and SCOPUS. The Sustainable Integrated Chronic Care Models for Multimorbidity (SELFIE) framework, established by Leijten et al. (2018), was used for reflexive thematic synthesis. A two-stage screening process identified 15 integrated healthcare models, with five RCTs evaluating their effects on chronic conditions. The analysis revealed two key themes: aspects of care integration (service delivery, leadership, workforce, technology, and finance) and changes in patient and healthcare outcomes. Care coordination and multidisciplinary team care were common features, bridging gaps between health and social services for older patients. Despite challenges such as irregular funding and underutilisation of technology, several models demonstrated positive patient and healthcare outcomes. Virtual care platforms and remote monitoring systems have shown promise in improving patient engagement and enabling real-time care adjustments, particularly in rural areas with limited healthcare access. Our review highlights the need for integrated healthcare for older rural Australians with preventable chronic conditions, revealing the complexity of service models. Policy shifts towards coordinated services and changes in leadership and healthcare practices are essential to ensure this demographic receives integrated care that meets their needs.

Journal Title

Health Policy

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement

© 2025 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Item Access Status
Note

This publication has been entered in Griffith Research Online as an advance online version.

Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Public health

Policy and administration

Persistent link to this record
Citation

Hamiduzzaman, M; McLennan, V; Gaffney, H; Miles, S; Crook, S; Grove, L; Gray, M; Flood, V, Fostering integrated healthcare in rural Australia: A review of service models for older Australians with preventable chronic conditions, Health Policy, 2025, pp. 105304

Collections