Navigating the Labyrinth: Organizational Challenges in Integrated Diabetes Care for Individuals with Type 2-Diabetes and Schizophrenia: A Qualitative Exploration from the Healthcare Professionals’ Perspective

Introduction: This study explores the challenges faced by healthcare professionals in providing integrated care for individuals living with co-occurring schizophrenia and type 2 diabetes in Denmark. Despite the increased complexity of managing both conditions, little research has focused on healthcare professionals experiences and the organizational challenges involved in delivering integrated care.

Description: Using a qualitative exploratory design, the study involved semi-structured interviews with four healthcare professionals, 17 field observations of outpatient consultations, and one focus group interview, conducted between August 2020 and February 2021. Ricoeur’s interpretive philosophy was used for data analysis, focusing on the healthcare practices and challenges identified by healthcare professionals.

Discussion: Three key themes emerged: (1) Specialization leads to lack of knowledge and fragmented care, (2) The need for guiding in a complex healthcare system, and (3) The missing link – a lack of overview of healthcare services. These challenges impact integrated care delivery, as discussed in the context of Denmark’s healthcare system and international evidence.

Conclusion: The study highlights the need for a more integrated, holistic approach to care, including improved collaboration between specialized and general healthcare professionals, better care coordination, and policy improvements. Further research is needed to identify effective strategies for overcoming these barriers and to create more integrated care pathways for patients with complex conditions.