Building Consensus on an Integrated Care Pathway in Geriatric Rehabilitation: A Modified Delphi Study Among Professional Experts

Irma H. J. Everink*, Jolanda C. M. van Haastregt, Gertrudis I. J. M. Kempen, Jos M. G. A. Schols

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

To improve continuity and coordination of care in geriatric rehabilitation, an integrated care pathway was developed in the south of the Netherlands. This study aims to reach nationwide consensus on the content and structure of this locally developed pathway using a two-round Delphi study with specialized elderly care physicians (n = 37) as experts. In the first round, experts indicated their level of agreement on 65 statements representing the pathway on a 5-point Likert-type scale. Statements that did not gain consensus (interquartile range > 1) were redistributed to participants in Round 2. Consensus was reached on 56 statements (86%) after Round 1 and on 60 statements (92%) after Round 2. In total, 53 statements were assessed as relevant, seven statements were considered irrelevant, and five statements did not reach consensus. We conclude that there is broad nationwide consensus on the pathway, which therefore has the potential to be disseminated and implemented on a wider scale.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)423-434
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Applied Gerontology
Volume39
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2020

Keywords

  • geriatric rehabilitation
  • integrated care pathway
  • interprofessional collaboration
  • subacute care
  • aged
  • Delphi approach
  • TRANSITIONAL CARE
  • AGE

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