Interprofessional collaboration and patient-reported outcomes: a secondary data analysis based on large scale survey...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Outcomes Research
• Interprofessional Education and Practice

Background:

• Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is crucial for patient care, but its impact on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is not well-established.
• This study investigates the relationship between employee-perceived IPC and PROs in inpatient clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between employee-rated interprofessional collaboration and patient-reported outcomes.
• To identify specific components of IPC that may influence patient outcomes in a clinical inpatient setting.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of patient and employee survey data (2003-2016) from Picker Institute Germany.
• Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for IPC items and ordered logistic regression for PROs.
• Adjustments for patient/employee demographics and multiple hypothesis testing.

Main Results:

• Department-specific IPC showed a statistically significant, albeit small, association with improved PROs regarding post-discharge complications (OR 1.07).
• No other significant associations were found between IPC components and overall PROs.
• Exploratory analysis indicated positive associations for surgical and internal medicine patients, but ambiguous results for pediatric patients.

Conclusions:

• The link between department-level IPC and patient-reported outcomes remains unclear, with marginal effect sizes observed.
• Future research should differentiate between types of IPC and explore their specific mechanisms of action.
• Understanding nuanced aspects of IPC is essential for improving patient care and outcomes.