Auditing an organization's interprofessional learning and interprofessional practice: the interprofessional praxis...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Health Professions Education
• Organizational Studies

Background:

• Interprofessional learning (IPL) and interprofessional practice (IPP) are key strategies for enhancing healthcare services and patient care.
• Current methods struggle to comprehensively map IPL and IPP activities and account for organizational context and culture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Interprofessional Praxis Audit Framework (IPAF) as a novel tool.
• To address the elusiveness in understanding and mapping IPL and IPP activities.
• To examine the impact of organizational context and culture on IPL and IPP.

Main Methods:

• The Interprofessional Praxis Audit Framework (IPAF) was developed, comprising five components: context, culture, conduct, attitudes, and information.
• An action research methodology was employed to utilize the IPAF.
• A synchronized inspection approach was used to examine similarities and differences across IPAF components.

Main Results:

• The IPAF facilitates a comprehensive examination of an organization's enactment of IPL and IPP.
• The framework allows for simultaneous consideration of various components, revealing insights into organizational dynamics.
• The process generates knowledge that can drive change projects aimed at improving patient care.

Conclusions:

• The IPAF offers a unique and effective tool for auditing interprofessional activities within healthcare organizations.
• By integrating context and culture, the IPAF provides a holistic view of IPL and IPP.
• The framework supports evidence-based interventions to enhance interprofessional collaboration and ultimately improve patient outcomes.