Integrated care pathways for people with dementia in Italy: assessing key elements for quality of care in a nationwide evaluation

Background. Person-centred care is central to global and European Union (EU) dementia strategies. This Italian study evaluates compliance of integrated care pathways (ICPs) with the National Guidance for People with Dementia (NGICPD). Methods. ICPs obtained from national and official sources evaluated using a 43-item NGICPD-based checklist across three domains: framework, elements, and development. Results. Thirty-nine ICPs were analysed. Fourteen of 21 regions and 30 of 110 Local Health Authorities developed an ICP. Mean scores were 23.5±7.9 for regional and 23.1±5.0 for LHA ICPs, showing low compliance with the NGICPD. Conclusions. The study assessed national and regional ICPs for dissemination, guideline alignment, and implementation gaps, emphasizing the need for improved monitoring through key quality indicators.