Views on Interprofessional Collaboration in a Dutch Sexual Assault Center: A Qualitative Study Among Workers

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Interprofessional Collaboration
• Victim Support Services

Background:

• Sexual assault response systems require effective interprofessional collaboration for optimal victim care.
• Dutch Centers for Sexual Assault were established in 2012 to provide comprehensive medical, psychosocial, and legal support to victims.
• Understanding challenges in collaboration is vital for improving services in long-standing centers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the challenges in interprofessional collaboration within a Dutch Sexual Assault Center.
• To identify specific barriers hindering effective teamwork among medical, psychosocial, and legal professionals.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing semi-structured explorative interviews with 15 professionals.
• Thematic analysis of interview data, guided by expert opinion and the Bronstein Index of Interprofessional Collaboration.
• Reporting followed COREQ criteria, with themes illustrated by direct quotations.

Main Results:

• Three key challenges emerged: discrepancies in professional involvement, conflicting goals, and a lack of connection.
• Differing motivation and affinity among professionals significantly impacted involvement.
• Conflicting goals (victim care vs. prosecution) and limited personal contact hindered effective collaboration.

Conclusions:

• Building collective ownership and ensuring equal professional involvement are essential for successful collaboration.
• Training courses are recommended to clarify goals and foster reciprocal contact.
• Organizational financial support is crucial for implementing effective training initiatives.