Sociomaterial perspective as applied in interprofessional education and collaborative practice: a scoping review

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Sociology of Health
• Interprofessional Studies

Background:

• Contemporary healthcare demands complex learning and collaboration for better outcomes.
• Interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional collaboration (IPC) are crucial but require further development.
• Understanding the material aspects of IPE and IPC is essential for sustained practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the application of sociomaterial perspectives in interprofessional education and collaboration literature.
• To explore how sociomateriality influences the practices of learning and working together in health.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review following Arksey and O'Malley's framework.
• Systematic database search (September 2021) for literature from 2007 onwards.
• Thematic analysis of 43 included papers (research articles, book chapters, conference papers, commentaries).

Main Results:

• Identified three key themes: power as a sociomaterial entity, inclusion of non-health professionals, and critical understanding of sociomateriality.
• Sociomateriality highlights the inseparable relationship between human actions and material contexts in IPE and IPC.
• Majority of reviewed literature originated from Europe.

Conclusions:

• A sociomaterial perspective provides a valuable lens for understanding and reimagining interprofessional practices.
• This approach can foster innovative approaches to IPE and IPC for contemporary and future healthcare settings.
• Emphasizes the need to consider the material environment and its influence on collaborative health practices.