Leadership Development Strategies in Interprofessional Healthcare Collaboration: A Rapid Review

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Medical Education
• Leadership Studies

Background:

• Healthcare practitioners need leadership skills for improved patient outcomes, professional development, and interprofessional collaboration.
• Effective leadership is crucial for enhancing teamwork and service delivery in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically catalogue literature on leadership in healthcare practice and education.
• To identify essential leadership characteristics and skills for collaborative interprofessional service delivery.
• To determine effective leadership development strategies in healthcare.

Main Methods:

• A rapid review methodology was employed, adhering to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Literature searches were conducted across 11 databases, yielding 465 records, with 42 studies ultimately included after rigorous screening and quality appraisal using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT).

Main Results:

• The review identified variability in methodologies and healthcare disciplines studied.
• Interprofessional collaboration and teamwork were the most frequently reported strategies in leadership development programs.
• Positive outcomes associated with leadership training included improvements in skills, knowledge, confidence, attitudes, and satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• The findings provide an evidence base for curriculum development in healthcare leadership programs.
• Focusing on both content and methods is essential for effective leadership training.
• Systematic literature reviews enhance precision in developing targeted leadership curricula.