Assessment of Interprofessional Competencies in Primary Health Care: A Scoping Review

Interprofessional education (IPE) and interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) are essential strategies for developing the necessary interprofessional competencies (IPC) for collaborative practice. While self-assessment tools measuring IPC are widely used in educational settings, their application in primary health care (PHC) is limited. This study aimed to identify and analyse the available tools for assessing IPC in PHC, highlighting their characteristics and applicability.

A scoping review was conducted by searching eight databases. Data extracted included publication details and descriptions of assessment tools.

The search identified 981 records, of which 21 studies describing 15 different assessment tools were included. Most studies were published between 2016 and 2024, conducted primarily in the United States, and involved professionals from Nursing, Medicine and Pharmacy. The tools were mainly based on the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Core Competencies and the Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative frameworks, underscoring their established role as key references for IPC. Common assessed domains and competencies included roles and responsibilities, teamwork and collaboration and interprofessional communication. Additionally, some tools incorporated competencies related to community centred care, collaborative leadership and public health, indicating their potential relevance to PHC.

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the IPC assessment tools used in primary health settings, offering insights into the diversity of evaluation methods. Faculty, health professionals and researchers should identify the most appropriate tool according to the context in which it will be used, ensuring its applicability and the generation of results that will contribute to the enhancement of IPE and IPCP.