Allied Health Collaborative Practice Capability: A Coalescence of Capabilities

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Interprofessional Collaboration
• Allied Health Professions

Background:

• Allied health professionals are integral to collaborative healthcare.
• Effective preparation for collaborative practice is essential for students.
• The nature of allied health collaborative practice capability requires deeper understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To illuminate the nature of allied health collaborative practice capability.
• To identify the dimensions and capabilities contributing to this competence.
• To inform allied health student preparation for collaborative practice.

Main Methods:

• A philosophical hermeneutic approach was employed.
• Literature from health and health education fields was reviewed.
• Student and academic perceptions were gathered through focus groups and interviews.

Main Results:

• Identified a plurality of capabilities coalescing into collaborative practice capability.
• Categorized capabilities into contextual (adaptability, responsiveness, persistence), social (friendliness, openness, reciprocity), and individual (expertise, willingness, flexibility).
• Recognized that capabilities encompass both skills and tacit qualities.

Conclusions:

• Allied health collaborative practice capability is complex and multifaceted.
• Further research is needed to focus on tacit qualities and their interaction.
• Findings can inform practice development and educational strategies for allied health professionals.