The work performed through interprofessional meeting discourse: an observational study.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare communication
• Interprofessional collaboration
• Discourse analysis

Background:

• Interprofessional practice effectiveness depends on communication.
• Limited research exists on how communication patterns impact interprofessional work.
• Understanding communication in interprofessional meetings is crucial for optimizing collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how interactional discourse influences work during interprofessional meetings.
• To examine the impact of language patterns on interprofessional encounters.
• To understand the relationship between communication structure and meeting outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Observation of four interprofessional meetings in a rehabilitation unit.
• Stimulated-recall interviews with five participants.
• Data collection via video/audio recordings and field notes.
• Analysis using genre analysis, discourse analysis, and Cultural Historical Activity Theory.

Main Results:

• Identified two discourse forms: scripted (organizational work) and unscripted (knowledge co-construction, collaboration).
• Experienced clinicians orchestrated shifting between discourse types, enabling shared decision-making.
• Scripted discourse, influenced by communication tools, met organizational imperatives.
• Unscripted discourse fostered new insights, decisions, and social cohesion.

Conclusions:

• Shifting between scripted and unscripted discourse is key to effective interprofessional meetings.
• Communication patterns, particularly discourse, significantly influence collaboration and decision-making.
• Interprofessional communication strategies can enhance work outcomes within and beyond meetings.