The Feasibility of Implementing Interprofessional Collaboration-Based Telecare Services for Patients With...

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health challenge and is a leading cause of mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Indonesia continues to record one of the world's highest TB burdens. Persistent gaps in treatment adherence and continuity of care remain, despite various national initiatives. Achieving the national TB elimination target requires innovative, patient-centered approaches. These must be supported by interprofessional collaboration (IPC) and digital health interventions. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of implementing telecare-based IPC services to optimize TB management in hospital settings.

A mixed-methods exploratory sequential design was employed, comprising a quantitative cross-sectional survey followed by qualitative focus group discussions (FGDs). The study was conducted at Husada Prima Hospital, Surabaya, a regional TB referral center in Indonesia. In the quantitative phase, 77 healthcare professionals, including doctors, pharmacists, and nurses, completed the validated Indonesian version of the collaborative practice assessment tool (CPAT). Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests to examine differences in IPC perceptions across professional groups. The qualitative phase involved FGDs with 12 participants representing doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and hospital management. Discussions were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically to identify opportunities, barriers, and implementation strategies for telecare-based IPC. Rigor was maintained through data triangulation, participant validation, and information saturation.

Quantitative analysis identified significant interprofessional differences in perceptions of IPC, particularly regarding team barriers (p = 0.003), coordination and division of roles (p = 0.008), decision-making and conflict management (p = 0.025), and mission, goals, and objectives (p = 0.034). Qualitative analysis produced four major themes and 13 subthemes, encompassing opportunities, barriers, implementation strategies, and organizational support for telecare-based IPC. While participants expressed optimism about the model's potential, they also highlighted challenges, including unclear task delineation, patient skepticism toward digital communication, and the absence of standard operating procedures. Integration of quantitative and qualitative findings indicated that clear leadership structures, sufficient digital infrastructure, and robust professional collaboration are essential for successful implementation.

Telecare-based interprofessional collaboration is feasible and has the potential to enhance TB care in hospital settings. However, successful adoption depends on adequate infrastructure, well-prepared human resources, and supportive policies. The model is adaptable to diverse healthcare contexts but should be tailored to local capacities and patient characteristics to achieve optimal outcomes.