Challenges in organizing integrated care for the population in Belarus

Objective. To assess the readiness of the healthcare and social protection systems, non-governmental institutions to implement an integrated approach to the provision of medical care, including medico-social and palliative care, and social services to people in need.

Materials and methods. Sociological (questionnaire) and statistical methods were used while conducting the study. The questionnaire “Scaling integrated care in context, SCIROCCO”, developed within the framework of the project “SCIROCCO Exchange EU Capacity Action for integrated care” was used as a research tool. This questionnaire is used in European countries to assess the readiness of the healthcare and social protection systems and non-governmental organizations to implement integrated care. The study involved 325 (79.1 %) employees of healthcare agencies and organizations, 78 (19.0 %) employees of social service institutions, 8 (1.9 %) employees of the Red Cross Medico-Social Service "Dapamoha" of the Belarus Red Cross.

Results. There was a statistically significant difference in the average level of assessment of readiness of the healthcare and social protection systems to implement an integrated approach to providing medico-social and palliative care and social services to the citizens in need, depending on the category of workers (Kruskal-Wallis test: H = 22.3; p₃ = 0.0001). The highest assessment of readiness to implement an integrated approach was demonstrated by employees of social service institutions, with the median value (Me) reaching 3.2 points (Q₂₅ = 1.6; Q₇₅ = 4.0), the lowest one was shown by healthcare workers (Me = 1.9 points (Q₂₅ = 1; Q₇₅ = 3)). The assessment done by the employees of the medical and social service of the Red Cross was higher than that of the healthcare workers, but lower than that of the employees of social service institutions, and amounted to Me = 2.7 points (Q₂₅ = 1.7; Q₇₅ = 3).

Conclusions. The respondents' assessment of the level of readiness of the healthcare and social protection systems to implement an integrated approach to providing medicо-social and palliative care and social services to citizens in need is low and statistically significantly differs depending on the category of workers, which must be taken into account when organizing these types of assistance.