Data collection characteristics_
| Participants level | Slovenia | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Micro | 15 focus groups: seven with patients1 (6 urban, 1 rural), eight with health workers2 (5 urban, 3 rural) | Secondary data, based on two recently published relevant studies (16,17) |
| Meso | 11 interviews | 15 interviews |
| Macro | 12 interviews | 13 interviews |
Focus groups and interview guide_
| Introduction | Introduction of the researcher(s) |
| • Thank | |
| • Name & function of researcher | |
| • In case of 2 researchers: one asking questions (mainly) and one/both taking notes | |
| Explain purpose and the intent of the FG/interview: | |
| • Aim of FG/interview: gaining insight into opinions and perceptions of patients, healthcare teams and community actors in relation to integrated care, its barriers and facilitators | |
| • Duration of FG/interview (max 90 min) | |
| • Ensure confidentiality | |
| • Questions? | |
| Informed consent | |
| • Ask (to sign) the informed consent and permission to record the FG/interview | |
| Questions | 1. How do you see the current implementation of integrated chronic disease care in your country? What favors and what hinders it? |
| 2. What do you think is currently an obstacle to tailor healthcare more to the individual person? What could facilitate such an approach? | |
| 3. How do you see collaboration between the patient and health professionals; and between different professionals within and outside the team? What are the barriers and facilitators? | |
| 4. How well coordinated is healthcare currently? What hinders and what facilitates the coordination of care? | |
| The questions were followed by additional sub-questions, that emerged from the responses of the current interviewee or focus group participants as well as aspects already identified by previous interviewees or focus group participants. Such an approach allowed us to gain more in-depth information. | |
| Concluding remarks | Additional comments |
| • Do you have any additional remarks? | |
| Thank | |
| • Thank you for your time. | |
Selection of participants_
| Participants level | Slovenia | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Micro (FGs) | FG Patients - Ljubljana (6 focus groups) | Secondary data |
| FG Patients - Ravne na Koroškem | ||
| FG Health Professionals - Ljubljana (5 focus groups) | ||
| FG Health Professionals - Lendava | ||
| FG Health Professionals - Gornja Radgona | ||
| FG Health Professionals - Ravne na Koroškem | ||
| Meso (interviews) | Community Health Centre Ljubljana (3 interviews) | Medical Association of GPs (Domus Medica, DM) |
| Community Health Centre Postojna | Belgian Association of Doctors Syndicates (BVAS) | |
| Institution for informal home care | Medical Association of GPs and Specialists (ASGB) | |
| (Zavod za oskrbo na domu) | General Pharmaceutical Association (APB) | |
| Municipality of Ljubljana (2 interviews) | Network of Hospitals (ICURO) | |
| Associations of patients with chronic diseases (Društvo Za Srce) (2 interviews) | Flemish Association of Dieticians | |
| Retirement home (Dom starejših občanov Tabor) | Association of Diabetes Nurses | |
| Associations of patients with chronic diseases (Društvo diabetikov) | Flemish Association of Independent Nurses (VBZV) | |
| Network of Homecare Nurses (Zorggezind) | ||
| Association of Home Nursing (WGK) | ||
| Flemish Patient Platform (VPP) | ||
| Flemish Diabetes Association (Diabetes liga) | ||
| First line zone (3 zones: Antwerp, | ||
| Ghent, Kempenland) | ||
| Macro (interviews) | National Institute for Public Health (2 interviews) | Federal Public Service of Health (FOD) |
| National Institute for Health Insurance | Flemish Cabinet | |
| Ministry of Health (2 interviews) | Association of Flemish Cities | |
| and Municipalities (VVSG) | ||
| Chamber of Pharmacies | ||
| Flemish Agency of Care and Health (VAZG) | ||
| Health Council at Ministry of Health | ||
| National Institute of Health & Disability | ||
| Chamber of nurses, midwives and | Insurance (NIHDI) (3 interviews) | |
| healthcare assistants of Slovenia | ||
| Christian Health Fund (CM) | ||
| Medical University of Ljubljana, Department | ||
| of Family Medicine (3 interviews) | Joint College of Sickness Funds (NIC) | |
| Medical Chamber | Socialist Sickness Fund | |
| Federal Knowledge Centre for Healthcare (KCE) | ||
| Academia/Medical universities (2 interviews) | ||