title: [The path of continuity of care between hospital and territory in patients with severe brain injury. The expectations of caregivers and professionals].
abstract: The present study analyses how continuity of care is perceived by health professionals and GRACER (Gravi Cerebrolesioni Acquisite Emilia Romagna) patients' caregivers, in order to investigate where the gap between expectations and reality is more heavily felt and which dimension of the continuity of care is the most important both for health professionals and GRACER patients' caregivers. The study has been developed following the Gap Analysis theoretical model. A questionnaire, based on ServQual model, was used to collect data about the three dimensions of the construct of continuity of care related to information, management and relation, declined along the lines of expectations and perception of reality. The questionnaire was administered to health professionals and caregivers of GRACER patients (12-36 months after the event) inside 4 healthcare institutes in Emilia Romagna. The PAI (Piano Assistenziale Individuale) approach was the methodology applied in these 4 sites. To both groups the relational continuity was the most important dimension, followed at a long distance by the informational and the management ones. It has also been noted that to professionals reality is always worse than expectations, with the exception of only two items in the dimension of management continuity. To caregivers reality is worse than expectations in some items in the dimensions of information and management The study has shown that the relational dimension of continuity of care should be more investigated, as confirmed by literature. More research is needed about the professionals' dissatisfaction generated by the negative balance between expectations and perception of reality.
authors.affiliation: Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Ferrara.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Feiroli
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bolzani
authors.forename: Maria Cristina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cornelli
authors.forename: Lida
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ghirardi
authors.forename: Loris
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guizzardi
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Onesti
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dovani
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Davolo
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Artioli
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mancini
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D017028:Caregivers; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D010564:Personnel, Hospital