Interprofessional education and collaborative practice in Primary Health Care

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Primary Health Care
• Interprofessional Collaboration

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) is crucial for effective healthcare delivery.
• Understanding stakeholder perceptions is key to successful IPE implementation in Primary Health Care (PHC).

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore perceptions of professors, healthcare providers, and students on integrating IPE with PHC practices.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to IPE in the Brazilian PHC context.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative data collection via semi-structured interviews and focus groups.
• Involved 18 professors and multiple sessions with students and healthcare providers in PHC.
• Data collected between 2012 and 2013.

Main Results:

• Two main categories emerged: user-centered collaborative practice and barriers to IPE.
• Stakeholders identified a need to shift care models and professional training.
• Perceived difficulties in implementing IPE were significant.

Conclusions:

• IPE in Brazil is in its early stages.
• Findings suggest potential for collaborative practice but necessitate increased investment.
• Developing the teaching-health services relationship is critical for advancing IPE.