Chinese Community-dwelling Older Adults’ Expectations regarding the Delivery of Integrated Care through Case Managers: A Mixed Methods Study Protocol

Background The rising prevalence of chronic diseases among older adults in China calls for a more robust and efficient healthcare system. The current system, being fragmented and insufficient, fails to deliver comprehensive care for chronic diseases. There is a pressing need for tailored and integrated care solutions for older adults, which would facilitate resource sharing, improve access to advanced facilities, provide expert guidance, and ensure safe and effective care for those with multiple comorbidities. Methods Employing the PRISMA model recommended by the World Health Organization, this study suggests the use of a case manager to improve the delivery of publicly funded healthcare in the community. An exploratory sequential mixed methods approach will be implemented to investigate the acceptability of the PRISMA integrated care model and to identify the realistic needs, expectations, and associated sociodemographic characteristics of Chinese community-dwelling older adults respectively. An evidence-based integrated care model will be captured that can optimise healthcare delivery. Discussion By incorporating elements from the PRISMA model and considering the specific expectations of older adults, this study strives to promote integrated care through a centralised point of access managed by a case manager. This approach addresses significant gaps in the current healthcare provision and aims to improve the quality, accessibility, and efficiency of services, thereby improving care for the community. The findings of this study have the potential to inform policy decisions, guide the implementation of integrated care delivery, and ultimately improve health outcomes and the quality of life for older adults in China. Protocol Registration: The study protocol has been registered on osf.io (Registration DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/825AH).