Interprofessional Collaboration Competencies in the Health System: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Health Professions Education
• Interprofessional Collaboration

Background:

• Modern health systems necessitate collaboration among diverse professionals like physicians and nurses.
• Beyond professional skills, interprofessional competencies are vital for effective teamwork.
• Interprofessional collaboration is key to enhancing health system efficiency with available resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and identify essential interprofessional competencies for healthcare professionals.
• To categorize these competencies into distinct domains.
• To emphasize the importance of integrating these competencies into healthcare education and practice.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review conducted in 2021, adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched 9 major databases (e.g., PubMed, Scopus) and official websites of international organizations (WHO, UN, World Bank).
• Qualitative content analysis of 17 selected articles (2010-2020) using MAXQDA software.

Main Results:

• Identified six key domains of interprofessional competencies: patient-centered care, interprofessional communication, participatory leadership, conflict resolution, transparency of duties and responsibilities, and teamwork.
• "Transparency of duties and responsibilities" was identified as a fundamental competence present in all reviewed studies.
• These competencies are crucial for fostering effective collaboration among healthcare professionals.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional competencies are essential for delivering quality, safe, and patient-centered care.
• Integrating these competencies into educational curricula, in-service training, and continuing education is vital.
• This integration is fundamental for developing effective interprofessional collaboration in healthcare settings.