Volume 15, 17 Nov 2015 Publisher: Uopen Journals URL: http://www.ijic.org Cite this as: Int J Integr Care 2015; WCIC Conf Suppl; Abstract Introduction: Ten key principles have been identified to facilitate successful health systems integration. The principles include: 1) comprehensive services, 2) patient focus, 3) geographic coverage and rostering, 4) standardized care delivery through interprofessional teams, 5) performance management, 6) information technology, 7) organizational culture and

more »

... eadership, 8) physician integration, 9) governance structure, and 10) financial management. To our knowledge, there is little research on patients/user' perceptions on the concept of integration. This unique perspective will assist in identifying the relevancy of the principles for patients and users as well as influence recommendations for which indicators should be prioritized for measurement and further research. Methods: As a part of a larger study to identify indicators and tools for measuring health systems integration, three focus groups were conducted with 17 patients/users of the system in three regions (British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, and Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil). Each focus group targeted a different population to capture a variety of perspectives. In British Columbia participants were from rural communities, in Alberta from a large urban setting and in Rio Grande do Sul participants represented the community Health Councils in the City of Porto Alegre. Participants were provided with a list and descriptions of the 10 integration principles. At the end of the session they were asked to prioritize the principles. Both quantitative and qualitative analysis of the data were completed. A virtual meeting was held to discuss similarities and differences in themes. Key sections of data from Brazil was translated into English to be included in our final analysis. Results: The highest priority principles for integration in Canada were patient focus, comprehensive services across the care continuum, and standardized care delivery through interprofessional teams. In Canada, focus groups participants felt the system was still provider and