Assessing Nurses’ Satisfaction with Continuity of Care and the Case Management Model as an Indicator of Quality of Care in Spain

Abstract

Chronic diseases are treated and cared for in different healthcare settings. Continuity of care and the case management model facilitate the integration of processes and care levels. However, there is little evidence regarding the satisfaction of nurses with this model. The purpose of this study was to examine nurses’ satisfaction with continuity of care and the case management model. A cross-sectional study was conducted. An ad hoc questionnaire was administrated to 437 Spanish nurses from the three health care settings that responded. This included items on socio-demographics, employment relationship, and satisfaction with continuity of care and case management. Descriptive analysis and linear regression models were performed. In total, 96.1% of the nurses expressed a high level of satisfaction with continuity of care and 80.7% with the case management model. Nurses in a primary care setting reported the greatest satisfaction with the case management model (B = 0.146, 95% CI = 0.139–0.694, p = 0.003). The nurses’ higher perception of patient satisfaction was associated with greater satisfaction with continuity of care (B = 0.466, 95% CI = −0.367–0.533, p < 0.000). Nurses identified the case management model as an optimal facilitator of continuity of care. While satisfaction with continuity is high, strategies are needed to improve it in primary care centers and aged care homes.