Navigating a decade of integrated care research in the International Journal of Integrated Care: how far have we come?
Authors: Jessica Michgelsen, Nick Zonneveld, Robin Miller, Viktoria Stein, Caroline Longpré, Maripier Jubinville, Nick Goodwin, Mirella Minkman
This study examined 508 full-text articles published in IJIC between 2012 and 2022, with a targeted analysis of 560 articles focusing on two thematic areas: the extent of co-production together with people with lived experience and the measurement of integrated care impact. The findings indicate that while the volume of publications has grown, the proportion of studies involving co-producers remains below 5%, and the application of robust impact measurement frameworks was limited. A separate keyword analysis (n=4136) confirmed that topics such as coordination, primary care, and older adults dominate the literature, while co-production and outcome measurement are underrepresented. The authors showed an important opportunity for the field to further develop more consistent methodological and conceptual approaches to coproduction and impact measurement.
Exploring interdisciplinary perspectives on the implementation of personalized medicine and patient-orchestrated care in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Tanja J de Rijke Dianne Vasseur, and Leonie NC Visser
This qualitative study examined how professionals from different disciplines understand and apply the concepts of personalized medicine and patient-orchestrated care in the context of Alzheimer’s disease. Thirty semi-structured interviews were conducted with clinicians, researchers, and other stakeholders within the ABOARD project. Participants described personalized medicine as an approach that combines biomedical and psychosocial factors to tailor treatment options, while patient-orchestrated care was linked to the decision-making role of the patient. Both were often seen as overlapping, but in practice clinicians still retained responsibility for final decisions. Professionals expressed mixed opinions about whether patient-orchestrated care is realistic or desirable, pointing to feasibility concerns and the burden it may place on patients and families. The authors conclude that to embed these concepts meaningfully, clearer definitions and systemic support are needed, alongside broader stakeholder involvement that includes patients and caregivers themselves.
Construct validity of the measurement tools PH42 and I.ROC12 to measure Positive Health in a general population
Authors: Vera P. van Druten; Lenny M. W. Nahar-van Venrooij; Bea G. Tiemens; Dike van de Mheen; Esther de Vries; Margot J. Metz
This study provide empirical evidence for using the PH42 and I.ROC12 to measure Positive Health in a general population. The concept of positive health transcends the traditional definition of health as complete physical, mental and social wellbeing. Instead it anchors health with the ability to adapt and lead a meaningful life, embracing an inclusive perspective that resonates with the realities of ageing and living with chronic illness. This broader and more dynamic understanding of health relates more closely with the lived experience of many indivuduals. The study strengthens the measurement foundation to apply this concept in both care practice and policy.
The researchers investigated construct validity (coherence between the tools, convergent validity and discriminative validity) of two tools: the 42-item PH42 (Positive Health Questionnaire) and the shorter 12-item I.ROC12 (Individual Recovery Outcomes Counter). Drawing on responses from over 2,400 adults in the Netherlands, convergent validity is adequate and discriminative validity is adequate for healthcare use and educational level strengthening the conclusion that the PH42 and I.ROC12 can be used to measure Positive Health in a general population. Rather than replacing clinical metrics, these instruments invite richer measurements leading to conversations — helping professionals see beyond the incapabilities and understand what matters most to the individual. In doing so, they support more person-centred and integrated care, where health is not merely defined by diagnosis, but by meaning, capability, and connection.
