Enhancing interprofessional teamwork between youth care professionals using an electronic health record; a mixed...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Informatics
• Teamwork and Collaboration
• Child and Youth Services

Background:

• Interprofessional teamwork is crucial in youth and child healthcare.
• Shared electronic patient records (EPR-Youth) aim to enhance collaboration.
• The impact of EPR-Youth on teamwork components requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effect of EPR-Youth implementation on interprofessional teamwork.
• To identify specific teamwork components influenced by the shared record system.
• To explore professionals' perceptions of EPR-Youth's contribution to teamwork.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods design comparing pre- and post-implementation data.
• Quantitative surveys assessed five teamwork components (n=117 pre, n=127 post).
• Qualitative focus groups (n=12) explored EPR-Youth's impact on teamwork.

Main Results:

• Significant increase in reported professional flexibility post-EPR-Youth.
• Slight, non-significant improvements in other teamwork components.
• Focus groups indicated enhanced interdependence, collective ownership, and new professional activities.

Conclusions:

• EPR-Youth implementation can foster interprofessional teamwork in youth care.
• Organizational factors and shared definitions of teamwork are essential for successful implementation.
• EPR-Youth alone is insufficient; supportive organizational structures are necessary.