Dynamic and distributed exchanges: an interview study of interprofessional communication in rehabilitation

Area of Science:

• Healthcare research
• Rehabilitation science
• Communication studies

Background:

• Interprofessional communication (IPC) is crucial in rehabilitation but often inconsistent and difficult.
• Current research lacks depth in understanding the complexities of IPC within rehabilitation settings.
• Identifying contextual factors influencing IPC is key to enhancing team effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the complexities of interprofessional communication in rehabilitation.
• To understand the influence of contextual factors on IPC effectiveness.
• To identify implications for improving IPC in rehabilitation teams.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews with 24 healthcare professionals in Australia and New Zealand (July 2020 - February 2021).
• Employed Cultural Historical Activity Theory as the theoretical and analytical framework.
• Data analysis focused on participants' experiences and perceptions of IPC.

Main Results:

• IPC involves continuous, evolving interactions and information sharing crucial for patient care.
• Formal meetings are frequent, but communication extends beyond them, often competing with clinical workload.
• Reliance on communication tools is high, yet managing information from multiple sources presents challenges.

Conclusions:

• IPC significantly increases healthcare professionals' workload in rehabilitation, being time-consuming, effortful, and potentially error-prone.
• Effective IPC is integral to cohesive patient care but requires careful management.
• Rehabilitation teams need to rigorously examine communication practices, resource allocation, and strategies to reduce repetition and errors, recognizing communication time as legitimate patient care.