Lessons learnt from the process of designing care coordination interventions through participatory action research in public healthcare networks of six Latin American countries.

BACKGROUND: The participation of health professionals in designing interventions is considered vital to effective implementation, yet in areas such as clinical coordination is rarely promoted and evaluated. This study, part of Equity-LA II, aims to analyse the design process of interventions to improve clinical coordination, taking a participatory-action-research (PAR) approach, in healthcare networks of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay. This participatory process was planned in four phases, led by a local steering committee (LSC): (1) dissemination of problem analysis results and creation of professionals' platform, (2) selection of problems and intervention (3) intervention design and planning (4) adjustments after evaluation of first implementation stage. METHODS: A descriptive qualitative study based on documentary analysis, using a topic guide, was conducted in each intervention network. Documents produced regarding the intervention design process were selected. Thematic content analysis was conducted, generating mixed categories taken from the topic guide and identified from data. Main categories were LSC characteristics, type of design process (phases, participants' roles, methods) and associated difficulties, coordination problems and interventions selected. RESULTS: LSCs of similar composition (managers, professionals and researchers) were established, with increasing membership in Chile and high turnover in Argentina, Colombia and Mexico. Following results dissemination and selection of problems and interventions (more participatory in Chile and Colombia: 200-479 participants), the interventions were designed and planned, resulting in three different types of processes: (1) short initial design with adjustments after first implementation stage, in Colombia, Brazil and Mexico; (2) longer, more participatory process, with multiple cycles of action/reflection and pilot tests, in Chile; (3) open-ended design for ongoing adaptation, in Argentina and Uruguay. Professionals' time and the political cycle were the main barriers to participation. The clinical coordination problem selected was limited communication between primary and secondary care doctors. To address it, through discussions guided by context and feasibility criteria, interventions based on mutual feedback were selected. CONCLUSIONS: As expected in a flexible PAR process, its rollout differed across countries in participation and PAR cycles. Results show that PAR can help to design interventions adapted to context and offers lessons that can be applied in other contexts.

Relational Continuity of Chronic Patients with Primary and Secondary Care Doctors: A Study of Public Healthcare Networks of Six Latin American Countries.

Despite relational continuity (RC) with the doctor being key to care quality for chronic patients, particularly in fragmented healthcare systems, like many in Latin America (LA), little is known about RC and its attributes, particularly regarding specialists. Aim: We aim to analyse chronic patients' perceptions of RC with primary (PC) and secondary (SC) care doctors, and record changes between 2015 and 2017 in the public healthcare networks of six LA countries. An analysis of two cross-sectional studies applying the CCAENA questionnaire to chronic patients (N = 4881) was conducted in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Uruguay. The dependent variables of RC with PC and SC doctors were: consistency, trust, effective communication, and synthetic indexes based on RC attributes. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were performed. Although the RC index was high in 2015, especially in PC in all countries, and at both levels in Argentina and Uruguay, low perceived consistency of PC and SC doctors in Colombia and Chile and of SC doctors in Mexico revealed important areas for improvement. In 2017 the RC index of SC doctors increased in Chile and Mexico, while SC doctors' consistency in Colombia decreased. This study reveals important gaps in achieving RC with doctors, particularly in SC, which requires further structural and organisational reforms.

[Pillars and lines of action for integrated and people- and community-centered health systemsPilares e linhas de ação para sistemas integrados de saúde centrados nas pessoas e nas comunidades]. / Pilares y líneas de acción para los sistemas de salud integrados y centrados en las personas y las comunidades.

This paper presents the position of the Latin American working group of the International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC). The working group brings together various Latin American actors and organizations in support of actions that facilitate the transformation of health systems in the region towards integrated systems that focus on people not as isolated individuals but as subjects of law in the complex social and environmental contexts where they live and interact. The working group proposes nine pillars of integrated care to be used as a conceptual framework for policy development and changes in practices: 1) shared vision and values; 2) population health; 3) people and communities as partners; 4) resilient communities; 5) capacities of human resources for health; 6) governance and leadership; 7) digital solutions; 8) aligned payment systems; and 9) public transparency. Based on these pillars, lines of work are proposed to strengthen alliances and networks, advocacy, research, and capacity-building, in order to help develop health and social systems that are effectively integrated and focused not only on people but also on communities in Latin America.

Este artigo apresenta o posicionamento do grupo de trabalho latino-americano da Fundação Internacional de Cuidados Integrados (1) (IFIC, na sigla em inglês). A IFIC reúne diversos atores e organizações da América Latina com o fim de apoiar ações que facilitem a transformação dos sistemas de saúde na região para sistemas integrados e centrados nas pessoas, não como indivíduos isolados, mas como sujeitos de direito, nos complexos contextos sociais e ambientais em que vivem e participam. O grupo de trabalho propõe nove pilares de atenção integrada a serem utilizados como marco conceitual na elaboração de políticas e de mudanças nas práticas: 1) visão e valores compartilhados, 2) saúde das populações, 3) pessoas e comunidades como parceiros, 4) comunidades resilientes, 5) capacitação de talento humano em saúde, 6) governança e liderança, 7) soluções digitais, 8) sistemas de pagamento alinhados e 9) transparência perante a população. Com base nesses pilares, são propostas linhas de trabalho nas áreas de fortalecimento de alianças e redes, incidência política, pesquisa e capacitação, que contribuam para materializar na América Latina sistemas sociais e de saúde efetivamente integrados e centrados não só nas pessoas, como também nas comunidades.

Pilares y líneas de acción para los sistemas de salud integrados y centrados en las personas y las comunidades

[RESUMEN]. Se presenta el posicionamiento del grupo de trabajo latinoamericano de la Fundación Internacional para los Cuidados Integrados (1) (IFIC, por su sigla en inglés). Este reúne a diversos actores y organizaciones de América Latina, con el objeto de apoyar acciones que faciliten la transformación de los sistemas de salud en la Región hacia sistemas integrados y centrados en las personas, no como individuos aislados, sino como sujetos de derecho, en los contextos sociales y ambientales complejos donde viven y se vinculan. El grupo de trabajo plantea nueve pilares de la atención integrada para ser utilizados como marco conceptual en la elaboración de políticas y de cambios en las prácticas: 1) visión y valores compartidos, 2) salud de las poblaciones, 3) las personas y las comunidades como socias, 4) comunidades resilientes, 5) capacidades del talento humano en salud, 6) gobernanza y liderazgo, 7) soluciones digitales, 8) sistemas de pago alineados, y 9) transparencia ante la ciudadanía. Desde estos pilares se proponen líneas de trabajo en los ámbitos del fortalecimiento de alianzas y redes, la abogacía, la investigación y generación de capacidades, que contribuyan a materializar sistemas de salud y sociales efectivamente integrados y centrados no solo en las personas, sino también en las comunidades en América Latina.

[ABSTRACT]. This paper presents the position of the Latin American working group of the International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC). The working group brings together various Latin American actors and organizations in support of actions that facilitate the transformation of health systems in the region towards integrated systems that focus on people not as isolated individuals but as subjects of law in the complex social and environmental contexts where they live and interact. The working group proposes nine pillars of integrated care to be used as a conceptual framework for policy development and changes in practices: 1) shared vision and values; 2) population health; 3) people and communities as partners; 4) resilient communities; 5) capacities of human resources for health; 6) governance and leadership; 7) digital solutions; 8) aligned payment systems; and 9) public transparency. Based on these pillars, lines of work are proposed to strengthen alliances and networks, advocacy, research, and capacity-building, in order to help develop health and social systems that are effectively integrated and focused not only on people but also on communities in Latin America.

[RESUMO]. Este artigo apresenta o posicionamento do grupo de trabalho latino-americano da Fundação Internacional de Cuidados Integrados (1) (IFIC, na sigla em inglês). A IFIC reúne diversos atores e organizações da América Latina com o fim de apoiar ações que facilitem a transformação dos sistemas de saúde na região para sistemas integrados e centrados nas pessoas, não como indivíduos isolados, mas como sujeitos de direito, nos complexos contextos sociais e ambientais em que vivem e participam. O grupo de trabalho propõe nove pilares de atenção integrada a serem utilizados como marco conceitual na elaboração de políticas e de mudanças nas práticas: 1) visão e valores compartilhados, 2) saúde das populações, 3) pessoas e comunidades como parceiros, 4) comunidades resilientes, 5) capacitação de talento humano em saúde, 6) governança e liderança, 7) soluções digitais, 8) sistemas de pagamento alinhados e 9) transparência perante a população. Com base nesses pilares, são propostas linhas de trabalho nas áreas de fortalecimento de alianças e redes, incidência política, pesquisa e capacitação, que contribuam para materializar na América Latina sistemas sociais e de saúde efetivamente integrados e centrados não só nas pessoas, como também nas comunidades.

Evaluating the effectiveness of care coordination interventions designed and implemented through a participatory action research process: Lessons learned from a quasi-experimental study in public healthcare networks in Latin America.

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing recommendations for health professionals to participate in intervention design and implementation to effect changes in clinical practice, little is known about this strategy's effectiveness. This study analyses the effectiveness of interventions designed and implemented through participatory action research (PAR) processes in healthcare networks of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay to improve clinical coordination across care levels, and offers recommendations for future research. METHODS: The study was quasi-experimental. Two comparable networks, one intervention (IN) and one control (CN), were selected in each country. Baseline (2015) and evaluation (2017) surveys of a sample of primary and secondary care doctors (174 doctors/network/year) were conducted using the COORDENA® questionnaire. Most of the interventions chosen were based on joint meetings, promoting cross-level clinical agreement and communication for patient follow-up. Outcome variables were: a) intermediate: interactional and organizational factors; b) distal: experience of cross-level clinical information coordination, of clinical management coordination and general perception of coordination between levels. Poisson regression models were estimated. RESULTS: A statistically significant increase in some of the interactional factors (intermediate outcomes) -knowing each other personally and mutual trust- was observed in Brazil and Chile INs; and in some organizational factors -institutional support- in Colombia and Mexico. Compared to CNs in 2017, INs of Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico showed significant differences in some factors. In distal outcomes, care consistency items improved in Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay INs; and patient follow-up improved in Chile and Mexico. General perception of clinical coordination increased in Brazil, Colombia and Mexico INs. Compared to CNs in 2017, only Brazil showed significant differences. CONCLUSIONS: Although more research is needed, results show that PAR-based interventions improved some outcomes regarding clinical coordination at network level, with differences between countries. However, a PAR process is, by definition, slow and gradual, and longer implementation periods are needed to achieve greater penetration and quantifiable changes. The participatory and flexible nature of interventions developed through PAR processes poses methodological challenges (such as defining outcomes or allocating individuals to different groups in advance), and requires a comprehensive mixed-methods approach that simultaneously evaluates effectiveness and the implementation process to better understand its outcomes.

Assessing the impact of clinical coordination interventions on the continuity of care for patients with chronic conditions: participatory action research in five Latin American countries.

Although fragmentation in the provision of services is considered an obstacle to effective health care, there is scant evidence on the impact of interventions to improve care coordination between primary care and secondary care in terms of continuity of care-i.e. from the patient perspective-particularly in Latin America (LA). Within the framework of the Equity-LA II project, interventions to improve coordination across care levels were implemented in five Latin American countries (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay) through a participatory action research (PAR) process. This paper analyses the impact of these PAR interventions on the cross-level continuity of care of chronic patients in public healthcare networks. A quasi-experimental study was performed with measurements based on two surveys of a sample of patients with chronic conditions (392 per network; 800 per country). Both the baseline (2015) and evaluation (2017) surveys were conducted using the CCAENA questionnaire. In each country, two comparable public healthcare networks were selected, one intervention and one control. Outcomes were cross-level continuity of information and clinical management continuity. Descriptive analyses were conducted, and Poisson regression models with robust variance were fitted to estimate changes. With differences between countries, the results showed improvements in cross-level continuity of clinical information (transfer of clinical information) and clinical management continuity (care coherence). These results are consistent with those of previous studies on the effectiveness of the interventions implemented in each country in improving care coordination in Brazil, Chile and Colombia. Differences between countries are probably related to particular contextual factors and events that occurred during the implementation process. This supports the notion that certain context and process factors are needed to improve continuity of care. The results provide evidence that, although the interventions were designed to enhance care coordination and aimed at health professionals, patients report improvements in continuity of care.

Pilares y líneas de acción para los sistemas de salud integrados y centrados en las personas y las comunidades / Pillars and lines of action for integrated and people- and community-centered health systems / Pilares e linhas de ação para sistemas integrados de saúde centrados nas pessoas e nas comunidades

RESUMEN Se presenta el posicionamiento del grupo de trabajo latinoamericano de la Fundación Internacional para los Cuidados Integrados (1) (IFIC, por su sigla en inglés). Este reúne a diversos actores y organizaciones de América Latina, con el objeto de apoyar acciones que faciliten la transformación de los sistemas de salud en la Región hacia sistemas integrados y centrados en las personas, no como individuos aislados, sino como sujetos de derecho, en los contextos sociales y ambientales complejos donde viven y se vinculan. El grupo de trabajo plantea nueve pilares de la atención integrada para ser utilizados como marco conceptual en la elaboración de políticas y de cambios en las prácticas: 1) visión y valores compartidos, 2) salud de las poblaciones, 3) las personas y las comunidades como socias, 4) comunidades resilientes, 5) capacidades del talento humano en salud, 6) gobernanza y liderazgo, 7) soluciones digitales, 8) sistemas de pago alineados, y 9) transparencia ante la ciudadanía. Desde estos pilares se proponen líneas de trabajo en los ámbitos del fortalecimiento de alianzas y redes, la abogacía, la investigación y generación de capacidades, que contribuyan a materializar sistemas de salud y sociales efectivamente integrados y centrados no solo en las personas, sino también en las comunidades en América Latina.

ABSTRACT This paper presents the position of the Latin American working group of the International Foundation for Integrated Care (IFIC). The working group brings together various Latin American actors and organizations in support of actions that facilitate the transformation of health systems in the region towards integrated systems that focus on people not as isolated individuals but as subjects of law in the complex social and environmental contexts where they live and interact. The working group proposes nine pillars of integrated care to be used as a conceptual framework for policy development and changes in practices: 1) shared vision and values; 2) population health; 3) people and communities as partners; 4) resilient communities; 5) capacities of human resources for health; 6) governance and leadership; 7) digital solutions; 8) aligned payment systems; and 9) public transparency. Based on these pillars, lines of work are proposed to strengthen alliances and networks, advocacy, research, and capacity-building, in order to help develop health and social systems that are effectively integrated and focused not only on people but also on communities in Latin America.

RESUMO Este artigo apresenta o posicionamento do grupo de trabalho latino-americano da Fundação Internacional de Cuidados Integrados (1) (IFIC, na sigla em inglês). A IFIC reúne diversos atores e organizações da América Latina com o fim de apoiar ações que facilitem a transformação dos sistemas de saúde na região para sistemas integrados e centrados nas pessoas, não como indivíduos isolados, mas como sujeitos de direito, nos complexos contextos sociais e ambientais em que vivem e participam. O grupo de trabalho propõe nove pilares de atenção integrada a serem utilizados como marco conceitual na elaboração de políticas e de mudanças nas práticas: 1) visão e valores compartilhados, 2) saúde das populações, 3) pessoas e comunidades como parceiros, 4) comunidades resilientes, 5) capacitação de talento humano em saúde, 6) governança e liderança, 7) soluções digitais, 8) sistemas de pagamento alinhados e 9) transparência perante a população. Com base nesses pilares, são propostas linhas de trabalho nas áreas de fortalecimento de alianças e redes, incidência política, pesquisa e capacitação, que contribuam para materializar na América Latina sistemas sociais e de saúde efetivamente integrados e centrados não só nas pessoas, como também nas comunidades.

Interventions to Improve Clinical Coordination between Levels: Participatory Experience in a Public Healthcare Network in Xalapa, Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: Coordination of care can be improved through an intervention or a combination of several ones. In addition, it is recommended to encourage the active involvement of professionals in the design, implementation and assessment of coordination mechanisms. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the factors that influence the implementation of participatively designed interventions and their effects on clinical coordination between levels of care in a public healthcare network of health services in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive-interpretative study, for which individual interviews and discussion groups with a criterion sample of participants: Local Steering Committee and the Professional Platform. A content analysis, with mixed category generation and segmentation by intervention and topics, was carried out. According to the problem analysis, participants designed two sequential interventions: offline virtual consultation, and joint training meetings on maternal health and chronic diseases. RESULTS: Respondents perceived a differentiated impact on clinical coordination according to intervention: greater in the case of joint maternal health trainings and limited for the chronic diseases meetings, as they were the offline virtual consultation was rarely used. CONCLUSION: The involvement of professionals in designing the interventions, as well as institutional support and reflexive methods for training, all decisively improved clinical coordination between levels.

[Barriers and factors associated with the use of coordination mechanisms between levels of care in Mexico]. / Barreras y factores asociados al uso de mecanismos de coordinación entre niveles de atención en México.

The aim was to analyze the level and characterize the use of clinical coordination mechanisms between levels of care, and their associated factors, in two public networks of health services in Mexico. A cross-sectional study was carried out using the COORDENA questionnaire to primary and specialized care physicians in the state of Veracruz. Differences were found between networks and levels of care, according to the mechanism. In both, the referral/counter-referral is mostly used to channel the patient to another level, mainly by primary care physicians. A high reception of referrals by specialists was identified, but few counterreferences in primary care. Being a man and recognizing the primary care physician, as responsible for monitoring the patient in his/her healthcare career, were factors associated with the frequent sending of the counter-referral by specialists. The discharge report is used in both networks to send clinical information to the other level, with more sending by specialist doctors, but with less reception in primary care. In both networks, the follow-up to the recommendations of the mechanisms to standardize clinical care was greater by primary care physicians than specialized ones. The use of coordination mechanisms between levels of care is deficient and limited, with greater use of mechanisms to transfer information than for clinical management. The need to implement strategies that consider the participation of professionals is evident, to favor local adaptation, appropriation and improve their use.

El objetivo fue analizar el nivel y caracterizar el uso de mecanismos de coordinación clínica entre niveles de atención, y sus factores asociados, en dos redes públicas de servicios de salud en México. Se realizó estudio transversal mediante el cuestionario COORDENA a médicos de atención primaria y especializada del estado de Veracruz. Se encontraron diferencias entre redes y niveles de atención, según el mecanismo. En ambas, la referencia/contrarreferencia es sobre todo utilizada para canalizar al paciente a otro nivel, principalmente por parte de los médicos de atención primaria. Se identificó una alta recepción de referencias por especialistas, pero escasa recepción de contrarreferencias en atención primaria. Ser hombre y reconocer al médico/a de atención primaria como responsable del seguimiento del paciente en su trayectoria asistencial, fueron factores asociados al envío frecuente de la contrarreferencia por especialistas. El informe de alta se utiliza en ambas redes para enviar información clínica al otro nivel, con mayor envío por médicos/as especialistas, y con menor recepción en atención primaria. En ambas redes, el seguimiento a las recomendaciones de los mecanismos para estandarizar la atención clínica (guías de práctica clínica, etc.) por parte médicos/as de atención primaria que de especializada. La utilización de mecanismos de coordinación entre niveles de atención es deficiente y limitada, con mayor uso de mecanismos para transferir información que para la gestión clínica. Se evidencia la necesidad de implementar estrategias que consideren la participación de los profesionales, para favorecer la adaptación local, apropiación y mejorar su uso.

O objetivo era analisar o nível e caracterizar o uso de mecanismos de coordenação clínica entre níveis de atenção e seus fatores associados em duas redes públicas de saúde no México. Estudo transversal por meio do questionário COORDENA aplicados a médicos da atenção primaria e especializada do Estado de Veracruz. Foram encontradas diferenças entre redes e níveis de atenção conforme o mecanismo. Em ambas, a referência/contrarreferência é sobre tudo utilizada para encaminhar o paciente para outro nível, principalmente por parte dos médicos da atenção primária. Foi identificado um alto recebimento de referências por especialistas, porém raras são as contrarreferências na atenção primária. Ser homem e reconhecer o médico/a de atenção primária como responsável pelo acompanhamento do paciente na sua trajetória de atendimento foram fatores associados ao envio frequente da contrarreferência por especialistas. O relatório de alta é utilizado nas duas redes para enviar informação clínica ao outro nível, com mais envios por médicos/as especialistas e menos recebimentos na atenção primária. Em ambas as redes, a observância das recomendações de mecanismos para padronizar a atenção clínica foi maior por parte dos médicos/as da atenção primária do que da especializada. O uso de mecanismos de coordenação entre níveis de atenção é deficiente e limitado, com o emprego maior de mecanismos para transmitir informação do que para a gestão clínica. Ficou evidenciada a necessidade de implementar estratégias que levem em conta a participação dos profissionais, para promover a adequação local, a apropriação e melhorar a sua utilização.

Barreras y factores asociados al uso de mecanismos de coordinación entre niveles de atención en México / Barriers and factors associated with the use of coordination mechanisms between levels of care in Mexico / Entraves e fatores associados ao uso de mecanismos de coordenação entre níveis de atenção no México

Resumen: El objetivo fue analizar el nivel y caracterizar el uso de mecanismos de coordinación clínica entre niveles de atención, y sus factores asociados, en dos redes públicas de servicios de salud en México. Se realizó estudio transversal mediante el cuestionario COORDENA a médicos de atención primaria y especializada del estado de Veracruz. Se encontraron diferencias entre redes y niveles de atención, según el mecanismo. En ambas, la referencia/contrarreferencia es sobre todo utilizada para canalizar al paciente a otro nivel, principalmente por parte de los médicos de atención primaria. Se identificó una alta recepción de referencias por especialistas, pero escasa recepción de contrarreferencias en atención primaria. Ser hombre y reconocer al médico/a de atención primaria como responsable del seguimiento del paciente en su trayectoria asistencial, fueron factores asociados al envío frecuente de la contrarreferencia por especialistas. El informe de alta se utiliza en ambas redes para enviar información clínica al otro nivel, con mayor envío por médicos/as especialistas, y con menor recepción en atención primaria. En ambas redes, el seguimiento a las recomendaciones de los mecanismos para estandarizar la atención clínica (guías de práctica clínica, etc.) por parte médicos/as de atención primaria que de especializada. La utilización de mecanismos de coordinación entre niveles de atención es deficiente y limitada, con mayor uso de mecanismos para transferir información que para la gestión clínica. Se evidencia la necesidad de implementar estrategias que consideren la participación de los profesionales, para favorecer la adaptación local, apropiación y mejorar su uso.

Abstract: The aim was to analyze the level and characterize the use of clinical coordination mechanisms between levels of care, and their associated factors, in two public networks of health services in Mexico. A cross-sectional study was carried out using the COORDENA questionnaire to primary and specialized care physicians in the state of Veracruz. Differences were found between networks and levels of care, according to the mechanism. In both, the referral/counter-referral is mostly used to channel the patient to another level, mainly by primary care physicians. A high reception of referrals by specialists was identified, but few counterreferences in primary care. Being a man and recognizing the primary care physician, as responsible for monitoring the patient in his/her healthcare career, were factors associated with the frequent sending of the counter-referral by specialists. The discharge report is used in both networks to send clinical information to the other level, with more sending by specialist doctors, but with less reception in primary care. In both networks, the follow-up to the recommendations of the mechanisms to standardize clinical care was greater by primary care physicians than specialized ones. The use of coordination mechanisms between levels of care is deficient and limited, with greater use of mechanisms to transfer information than for clinical management. The need to implement strategies that consider the participation of professionals is evident, to favor local adaptation, appropriation and improve their use.

Resumo: O objetivo era analisar o nível e caracterizar o uso de mecanismos de coordenação clínica entre níveis de atenção e seus fatores associados em duas redes públicas de saúde no México. Estudo transversal por meio do questionário COORDENA aplicados a médicos da atenção primaria e especializada do Estado de Veracruz. Foram encontradas diferenças entre redes e níveis de atenção conforme o mecanismo. Em ambas, a referência/contrarreferência é sobre tudo utilizada para encaminhar o paciente para outro nível, principalmente por parte dos médicos da atenção primária. Foi identificado um alto recebimento de referências por especialistas, porém raras são as contrarreferências na atenção primária. Ser homem e reconhecer o médico/a de atenção primária como responsável pelo acompanhamento do paciente na sua trajetória de atendimento foram fatores associados ao envio frequente da contrarreferência por especialistas. O relatório de alta é utilizado nas duas redes para enviar informação clínica ao outro nível, com mais envios por médicos/as especialistas e menos recebimentos na atenção primária. Em ambas as redes, a observância das recomendações de mecanismos para padronizar a atenção clínica foi maior por parte dos médicos/as da atenção primária do que da especializada. O uso de mecanismos de coordenação entre níveis de atenção é deficiente e limitado, com o emprego maior de mecanismos para transmitir informação do que para a gestão clínica. Ficou evidenciada a necessidade de implementar estratégias que levem em conta a participação dos profissionais, para promover a adequação local, a apropriação e melhorar a sua utilização.

Can care coordination across levels be improved through the implementation of participatory action research interventions? Outcomes and conditions for sustaining changes in five Latin American countries.

BACKGROUND: Finding new strategies for care integration has become a policy priority for many fragmented health systems in Latin America. Although the implementation of interventions through a participatory action research (PAR) approach is considered to be more effective in achieving organizational change, its application is scarce. This study, part of the research project Equity-LA II, aims to analyze the impact of PAR interventions on care coordination across levels, and key aspects for their sustainability and transferability, from the stakeholder viewpoint in healthcare networks of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Uruguay. Different interventions were designed and implemented through a PAR process to improve communication and clinical agreement between primary care and secondary care doctors: joint meetings to discuss clinical cases and/or training; shared care guidelines; offline virtual consultations; a referral and reply letter; and an induction program. METHODS: A qualitative, descriptive-interpretative study was conducted in the healthcare network of each country. Focus groups and semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with a criterion sample of participants: local steering committee (29) and professional platform members (28), other health professionals (49) and managers (28). Thematic content analysis was conducted, segmented by country and type of intervention. RESULTS: Informants highlighted that joint meetings based on reflexive methods contributed substantially to improving contextually relevant elements of clinical management coordination - communication in patient follow-up, clinical agreement, appropriateness of referrals - and also administrative coordination. The meetings, alongside the PAR process, also helped to improve interaction between professionals - knowing each other personally and mutual trust - thus fostering willingness to collaborate. The PAR approach, moreover, served to spread awareness of the coordination problems and need for intervention, encouraging greater commitment and interest in participating. No noteworthy contributions were identified in remaining interventions due to low uptake. A necessary condition for the sustainability and replicability was that PAR process had to be used appropriately in a favourable context. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence is provided on the substantial contribution of interventions to improving locally relevant clinical coordination elements and professional interaction when implemented through an adequate PAR process (in terms of time, method and participation levels), a necessary condition for their sustainability and replicability.