JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

The rising burden of chronic diseases among older adults in China underscores the urgent need for an integrated and efficient healthcare system. Existing services are often fragmented, lacking coordination and accessibility, particularly for community-dwelling older adults with multiple comorbidities. There is a critical demand for person-centered integrated care models that enable resource sharing, expert guidance, and the safe, continuous management of chronic conditions.

Objective:

This study aims to investigate the unmet healthcare needs of community-dwelling older adults in China through qualitative inquiry. It will evaluate the acceptability of a PRISMA-informed case management model and identify specific needs that case managers can address. Additionally, the study will develop and validate a measurement instrument to quantify older adults’ expectations for case-managed integrated care, assess the levels of these expectations, examine sociodemographic correlates, and ultimately establish an evidence-based framework for adapting and implementing a case-managed integrated care model within community settings in China.

Methods:

An exploratory sequential mixed-methods design will be employed across three phases. Phase I involves qualitative interviews with community-dwelling older adults and other stakeholders to explore unmet healthcare needs and perceptions of case-managed integrated care. Phase II entails the development and psychometric validation of a questionnaire based on the findings from Phase I. Phase III involves a large-scale cross-sectional survey aimed at quantifying expectations for case-managed integrated care and identifying associated sociodemographic factors. A data-building approach will be used to synthesize both qualitative and quantitative findings, offering a comprehensive understanding of expectations regarding the proposed integrated care model.

Results:

Data collection is scheduled to begin in October 2025, with the study expected to last 24 months. Ethical approval has been obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee.

Conclusions:

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a culturally adapted, PRISMA-informed case-managed integrated care model to address critical gaps in existing healthcare service delivery. The findings are expected to inform policy formulation, guide the implementation of integrated community care strategies, and ultimately improve health outcomes and quality of life for older adults in China. Clinical Trial: The study protocol has been registered on osf.io (Registration DOI: https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/825AH).