Interprofessional collaboration from nurses and physicians – A triangulation of quantitative and qualitative data

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Research
• Interprofessional Education and Practice

Background:

• Interprofessional collaboration between nurses and physicians presents ongoing challenges in clinical settings.
• Existing quantitative or qualitative studies often have methodological limitations.
• Effective collaboration is crucial for optimal patient care and system efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize interprofessional collaboration from the nursing perspective.
• To utilize data triangulation by integrating quantitative and qualitative data.
• To provide a comprehensive overview of collaboration dynamics in Swiss hospitals.

Main Methods:

• Employed data triangulation within the Sinergia DRG Research program.
• Utilized a mixed-methods design, analyzing quantitative and qualitative data separately.
• Developed a four-step process to create a 'meta-matrix' integrating diverse data.

Main Results:

• The 'meta-matrix' visually presents integrated quantitative and qualitative results on a single page.
• Identified key influencing factors, relevance, and consequences of interprofessional collaboration.
• Demonstrated the visibility of positive and negative influences on collaboration within the matrix.

Conclusions:

• The 'meta-matrix' offers a novel visualization of interprofessional collaboration from the nursing viewpoint.
• Insufficient nurse-physician collaboration has significant negative consequences for patients, relatives, and healthcare systems.
• Investment in interprofessional concepts is essential, with the 'meta-matrix' aiding in identifying influential factors.