Why was the evidence base developed?

In 2000, an important systematic review explored the factors that support and hinder successful joint working (Cameron et al 2000 Factors promoting and obstacles hindering joint working: a systematic review). This key text forms a baseline, summarising work done up to that date, and our evidence base builds from that point. We have prepared a summary of this text.

The 2006 White Paper, Our health, our care, our say, set out a commitment to provide more integrated local health and social care services. On the basis of evidence available then, it suggested that integration can lead to a number of advantages for both organisations and service users, including improved use of resources and better coordinated support and care for individuals, helping them to remain in control and live independent lives. In the 2008 review of the Next Steps for the NHS by Lord Darzi, Minster of Health, further reference to the developing evidence base for integrated care was made. Subsequently, the Department of Health commissioned a brief review of the evidence on 'vertical' integration of care (i.e. linking secondary care with primary and community care) which we have summarised.

A seminar series on partnership working funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) also took place from 2005 to 2007. At the end of the series the project group recommended that work should be undertaken to keep the evidence base for integrated care up-to-date and research in practice for adults took responsibility for action. The Integrated Care Network supported this initiative in order to keep A practical guide to integrated working up to date through its website.

How was the evidence base developed?

The evidence base was developing using adapted systematic reviewing methodology. Systematic searches were carried out to identify studies providing original data about:

• the impact of integration on outcomes for service users, carers and organisations
• the effectiveness of different models for integration
• factors supporting or hindering integrated working

Following a thorough literature search the identified papers were carefully selected in a two-stage screening process by two experts using stringent selection criteria. Selected papers were then carefully summarized to draw out the main findings and key messages in an accessible format.

Searches are undertaken regularly to keep the evidence base up to date with new publications.