# Adapting WHO integrated care for older people (ICOPE) models to the Korean context: Policy relevance and feasibility-a Delphi survey

## TL;DR

This study evaluates how well Korea's aging care policies align with WHO's ICOPE framework, finding strong support for micro-level actions but gaps in system-level readiness.

## Contribution

The study provides the first expert-driven assessment of ICOPE's feasibility and policy relevance in the Korean context.

## Key findings

- Micro-level actions like frailty screening received strong expert consensus for feasibility and relevance.
- System-level readiness for ICT infrastructure, legal frameworks, and financing was lower.
- ICOPE is broadly compatible with Korea's strategies but requires improvements in governance and infrastructure.

## Abstract

•Korea’s aging care policy was evaluated using the WHO ICOPE framework.•A Delphi survey identified priority items for implementing integrated elderly care.•Strong expert consensus was reached on the feasibility and relevance of micro-level actions like frailty screening.•System-level readiness was lower for ICT infrastructure, legal frameworks, and financing.•Findings highlight the potential for aligning Korean policies with global care standards.

Korea’s aging care policy was evaluated using the WHO ICOPE framework.

A Delphi survey identified priority items for implementing integrated elderly care.

Strong expert consensus was reached on the feasibility and relevance of micro-level actions like frailty screening.

System-level readiness was lower for ICT infrastructure, legal frameworks, and financing.

Findings highlight the potential for aligning Korean policies with global care standards.

Korea is projected to become a super-aged society by 2025, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop the Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) framework for person-centered, community-based care. Despite Korea’s efforts in translating ICOPE materials and launching pilot projects, evidence on their national policy alignment and feasibility for scale-up remains limited.

This study assesses the policy relevance and feasibility of implementing the ICOPE framework in Korea through expert consensus and structural comparison with ongoing national and local initiatives.

A three-round Delphi survey involved 31 experts in geriatrics, public health, and aging policy. Thirty-two ICOPE implementation items were evaluated across micro, meso, and macro levels using interquartile range (IQR) and content validity ratio (CVR). Results were compared with key Korean programs, including the Seoul Health Companion Center and Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Integrated Care Pilot Project.

Most ICOPE elements, particularly at the micro level (e.g., frailty screening in primary care: IQR = 0.93, CVR = 0.72), were deemed relevant and feasible. However, macro-level components like digital infrastructure and financing showed limited readiness.

The ICOPE framework is broadly compatible with Korea’s integrated care strategies, especially at the micro level. Macro-level implementation gaps persist. This study’s findings, particularly identified consensus priorities and policy-practice gaps, aim to directly inform future policy design and scale-up strategies for integrated care in Korea, guiding efforts in governance integration, ICT infrastructure development, and indicator standardization.