[Interprofessional corporation between registered community nurses and general practitioner: A qualitative study]

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• General Practice
• Healthcare Management

Context:

• Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is crucial for healthcare quality in inpatient settings.
• Limited understanding exists regarding IPC within outpatient primary care delivered at home.
• This study investigates IPC challenges specific to the unique environment of home-based primary care.

Purpose:

• To identify and clarify the specific challenges of interprofessional collaboration in outpatient primary care.
• To highlight the differences in IPC between inpatient and outpatient healthcare settings.
• To inform strategies for improving collaborative practice in community nursing and general practice.

Summary:

• Qualitative analysis of interprofessional group discussions revealed that outpatient IPC between nurses and GPs faces structural challenges absent in inpatient settings.
• Lack of standardized agreements and coordinated processes impede effective IPC in home care due to the absence of a common management structure.
• The study utilized knowledge mapping and content analysis, comparing findings to existing inpatient IPC models.

Impact:

• Findings underscore the need for nurses and general practitioners to collaboratively establish clear IPC criteria, processes, and communication channels.
• Developing a shared approach and team spirit is essential to ensure consistent IPC in outpatient settings, moving beyond individual efforts.
• Recommendations aim to enhance the effectiveness and quality of collaborative healthcare delivery in the primary care at-home setting.