Abstract
Introduction: The demand for person-centred integrated care (PC-IC) requires health services focused on patients’ individual needs. Strengthening primary care is crucial in promoting PC-IC. Goal-oriented care (GOC) prioritizes patient goals and fosters interprofessional team-based care, optimizing PC-IC. GOC requires healthcare providers to shift from problem- to goal-oriented practices. However, how providers change their daily practice to align care with what matters most to patients remains unclear.
Aim: This qualitative study explores how primary care providers (PCPs) experience behaviour change when implementing GOC in daily work after an interprofessional GOC-training.
Method: Six months post-training, focus groups with PCPs were organized. A theoretical thematic analysis was conducted using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behaviour (COM-B) model.
Results: Twenty-two PCPs participated in five focus groups. Motivational factors catalysed behaviour change towards GOC, including developing awareness on care actions through reflective practice. PCPs identified capabilities such as asking person-centred questions, maintaining a broad knowledge and enhancing their advocacy for patients. Opportunities stressed team support, care continuity, and reflexivity-promoting workplaces as vital for enabling behavioural change in GOC.
Conclusion: Reflective practice is vital for aligning PCPs’ behaviour with GOC. Involvement of all colleagues and dedicated time for reflection promote team alignment and consistency in achieving patients’ personal goals.