What mechanisms lead to the endurance of health and social care integration? A multiple case study in Italy.

Background: The rising complexity of the population's needs has made health and social care integration a priority for the future. Despite the presence of supporting policies and funding, the number of successful experiences that endure over time is limited.

Objective: This work aims to investigate how health and social care integration occur and identify factors facilitating its endurance.

Co-producing and co-assessing a new service solution for enhancing health and social care integration: a participatory research protocol.

Background: This paper describes a study protocol for co-producing and co-assessing a new sustainable and scalable service solution that enhances health and social integration by involving providers and volunteers delivering services for elderly people in the province of Cremona (Italy), where the elderly population will reach 27% in 2023.

Methods: This upcoming study involves mixed-method participatory research and is structured in three study phases and related objectives. First, it will co-produce a new, accessible and sustainable service solution using an iterative design and management method, Plan-Do-Check-Act by involving professionals and volunteers of a heterogeneous group of health, social and third sector organizations located in the city of Cremona (Italy).