Reaching consensus on GP interprofessional competencies: a nominal group study

Area of Science:

• Primary Care
• Interprofessional Education
• Healthcare Collaboration

Background:

• Effective interprofessional teamwork is vital in primary care.
• Existing frameworks inadequately define interprofessional collaboration for competency development.
• There is a recognized need for enhanced training in collaborative competencies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To achieve consensus among primary care professionals on essential interprofessional competencies for general practitioners (GPs) and GP trainees.
• To guide the development of interprofessional collaborative skills in primary care settings.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative consensus study involving Dutch GPs and other primary care professionals.
• Three nominal group sessions were conducted to establish consensus on competencies.
• Content analysis and prioritization were used to refine and rank competencies.

Main Results:

• Eighteen professionals from nine disciplines participated.
• 31 unique competencies were identified, with 14 prioritized into three main themes.
• Themes included: GP professional identity/role, shared care plans, and collaborative partnerships.

Conclusions:

• Consensus was achieved on 14 core interprofessional competencies for GPs.
• This framework supports GP development in interprofessional collaboration.
• The findings offer a foundation for enhancing teamwork in primary care.