Perceptions Of Interprofessional Collaboration Research Articles

Empowerment and interprofessional collaboration in health promotion centre Murska Sobota

Abstract Background Health promotion centres (HPCs) were introduced in Slovenian primary health care centres to provide interventions against risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). HPCs integrate a multidisciplinary and community-based primary care approach to the prevention of NCDs and provide free lifestyle intervention programmes. This study aims to explore the perspectives of health care professionals on promoting health of local community members, as well as their perceptions of interprofessional collaboration in HPCs. Methods Two group discussions were conducted with a total of 11 health care professionals at the HPC Murska Sobota. Data collection was accompanied by a dual role interpreter in accordance with the principles of cross-language qualitative research. The data was transcribed, semantically translated and thematically analysed. Results Health care professionals emphasize the importance of health-related empowerment of individuals for the success of health promotion activities and therefore for the improvement of individuals’ quality of life. This is based on shared decision-making, self-management and educational measures in a combination of population- and individual-based approaches. The need for efficient interprofessional communication, characterized by a flat hierarchy, is stressed. Structured cooperation with other health care facilities, as well as close collaboration with communities and local media, are described as crucial for reaching all individuals and promoting health equity. Conclusions Interprofessional collaboration, health-related empowerment of individuals and collaboration with local communities are fundamental for the success of health promotion activities, achieving health equity and preventing NCDs. Understanding how these activities are implemented from the health care professionals’ perspective can help other health facilities developing and improving local health promotion strategies. Key messages • Slovenian health care professionals see interprofessional collaboration as fundamental for the implementation of health-promotion strategies. • Health-related empowerment of individuals and collaboration with local communities play an important role in achieving health equity in health promotion activities.

Perceptions of Interprofessional Collaboration in Managing HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer: Implications for Interprofessional Education

Perceptions of Interprofessional Collaboration in Managing HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer: Implications for Interprofessional Education

Occupational therapy experiences of interprofessional collaboration in the support of autistic children.

Autistic children commonly receive simultaneous services from various health-care and other professionals, including occupational therapy, throughout their journey of diagnosis and consequent therapeutic support. Current best practice guidelines for supporting autistic youth emphasise the importance of interprofessional collaboration. Despite this, collaboration among health-care professionals does not always occur, and little is understood about clinicians' experiences of collaborative care. The aim of this study was to explore Australian paediatric occupational therapists' experiences of interprofessional collaboration and their perception of factors influencing collaboration when supporting autistic children. This study employed an exploratory qualitative descriptive design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 Australian paediatric occupational therapists involved in service provision to autistic children. Questions explored clinicians' experiences and perceptions of interprofessional collaboration. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to inductively analyse data. This study was conceptualised and conducted by a team of researchers with a range of personal and professional experiences with the autistic community. The research design was strongly informed by the Autism CRC'S research guidelines. Three themes were generated highlighting factors that influence collaboration between occupational therapists and other professionals. The first emphasised that 'clinicians' capacity to collaborate' at both organisational and individual levels was understood to be greatly influenced by funding structures. The second emphasised that 'relationships are key to collaboration' with these often established through shared workplaces or clients. The third, 'shared perceptions make collaboration easier' described how shared perceptions of collaboration, the occupational therapy role, and autism-related frames of reference were perceived to influence interprofessional collaboration. Findings indicate that, while occupational therapists perceive interprofessional collaboration as valuable in the support of autistic children, there are barriers to effective collaboration, particularly in the context of a marketised service delivery model. This study looked at how Australian occupational therapists work with other professionals to support autistic children. Even though it is recommended that professionals work together to support autistic children and their families, this does not always happen. In this study, researchers interviewed 13 occupational therapists and asked what it is like working with other professionals, what is helpful, and what makes working together difficult. From these interviews, it was found that many things affect how well occupational therapists can work with other health professionals and teachers to support autistic children. Factors like funding and workplace rules affect how professionals work together. Having someone take on the role of leader and having good relationships between professionals made it easier to work together. It was also helpful when occupational therapists and other professionals shared similar ideas on how to support autistic children. The study could be improved if it had gathered more information about the occupational therapists' education and what they have learnt about working with other professionals. Overall, the therapists in this study believed that working together to support autistic children and their families was important, but that there are many challenges to making this happen. More research on this topic would be helpful.

Development of interprofessional education programmes in nursing care and oral healthcare for dental and nursing students

BackgroundInterprofessional education (IPE) is essential for healthcare students to collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams. This study aimed to identify the effect of IPE programmes in nursing care and oral healthcare on dental and nursing students’ perceptions of interprofessional collaboration.MethodsThe study included 101 third-year dental and 98 fourth-year nursing students. The participants were divided into mixed-professional groups of four (2 dental and 2 nursing students). They participated in nursing care and oral healthcare training programmes that included student-on-student training and discussion groups. Questionnaires regarding perceptions of interprofessional collaboration were distributed to the participants before and after the programmes to compare the programmes before and after and between the dental and nursing students. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test and chi-square test were used to compare the data.ResultsData from 79 dental students (42 males and 37 females) and 89 nursing students (4 males and 85 females) who completed both questionnaires were used for the comparisons. Perceptions of the differences between the approaches of different health professionals to nursing care, the roles of other professionals, and the need for multiprofessional collaboration improved significantly among both dental and nursing students after the programmes. Although the perception of their ability to communicate with unfamiliar or new people improved significantly only among the nursing students, other perceptions of their ability to communicate did not improve for either group. More dental students than nursing students chose nursing trainings as good programmes to participate in with other professional students, while more nursing students than dental students chose oral care trainings as good programmes. Many students commented that they learned about nursing and oral healthcare skills as well as the importance of teamwork and communication with other professionals. Seven students commented that they were more motivated to become dentists and nurses.ConclusionsThis study showed that IPE programmes for nursing care and oral healthcare might be effective at helping students understand other professionals and promoting multiprofessional collaboration. However, further studies are needed to develop IPE programmes to improve attitudes and abilities related to interprofessional communication skills.

Interprofessional collaboration in the home care setting: perspectives of people receiving home care, relatives, nurses, general practitioners, and therapists—results of a qualitative analysis

BackgroundAbout one million people in need of home care in Germany are assisted by 15,400 home care services. Home healthcare is mostly a complex endeavour because interprofessional collaboration is often challenging. This might negatively impact patient safety. The project interprof HOME aims to develop an interprofessional person-centred care concept for people receiving home care in a multistep approach. In one of the work packages we explored how people receiving home care, relatives, nurses, general practitioners, and therapists (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists) perceive collaboration in this setting.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 people receiving home care and with 21 relatives. Additionally, we worked with nine monoprofessional focus groups involving nurses of home care services (n = 17), general practitioners (n = 14), and therapists (n = 21). The data were analysed by content analysis.ResultsThree main categories evolved: “perception of interprofessional collaboration”, “means of communication”, and “barriers and facilitators”. People receiving home care and relatives often perceive little to no interprofessional collaboration and take over a significant part of the organisational coordination and information exchange. Interprofessional collaboration in steady care situations does exist at times and mostly occurs in coordination tasks. Contact and information exchange are rare, however, interprofessional personal encounters are sporadic, and fixed agreements and permanent contact persons are not standard. These trends increase with the complexity of the healthcare situation. Joint collaborations are often perceived as highly beneficial. Means of communications such as telephone, fax, or e-mail are used differently and are often considered tedious and time-consuming. No interprofessional formal written or electronic documentation system exists. Personal acquaintance and mutual trust are perceived as being beneficial, while a lack of mutual availability, limited time, and inadequate compensation hinder interprofessional collaboration.ConclusionsInterprofessional collaboration in home care occurs irregularly, and coordination often remains with people receiving home care or relatives. While this individual care set-up may work sufficiently well in low complex care situations, it becomes vulnerable to disruptions with increasing complexity. Close interactions, joint collaboration, and fixed means of communication might improve healthcare at home. The findings were integrated into the development of the person-centred interprofessional care concept interprof HOME.Trial registrationThis study is registered on the International Clinical Trails registry platform ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT05149937 on 03/11/2021.

What matters in low-threshold collaboration? Perceptions of interprofessional collaboration between education and social and healthcare professionals in Finnish primary schools

ABSTRACT This study examined the factors linked to low-threshold interprofessional collaboration in the context of Finnish primary schools. The main purpose of the study was to analyze how education and health and social care professionals perceived their mutual collaboration. The PINCOM-Q scale was used to identify factors related to interprofessional collaboration in professionals’ work settings. The results indicate that individual factors such as work motivation and personal power are prominent in low-threshold collaboration. At the group level, communication has an important role to play in interprofessional collaboration. Professionals (n = 204) perceived mutual exchange of information as an important aspect of working together. The aspects that matter in the low-threshold mode of interprofessional collaboration are a complex combination of individual, group and less obvious organizational factors, all of which both reflect and are reflected in an individual’s motivation and commitment to cooperation. The establishment of long-term and systematic low-threshold, interprofessional collaboration presupposes that individual interests are realized in good interaction in equal encounters between different organizational domains.

'Our Voices Aren't Being Heard': A qualitative descriptive study of nurses' perceptions of interprofessional collaboration in care supporting older people's functioning during a hospital stay.

Older people admitted to hospital are highly susceptible to functional decline and related complications. Care supporting their functioning is complex and requires healthcare professionals working in concert, with nurses playing a central role. Yet, little is known about nurses' perceptions of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in care supporting functioning in acutely admitted older people. To fill this knowledge gap, we elucidate the perspectives of nurses in Ontario, Canada, on IPC in care supporting older people's functioning during a hospital stay. We employed a qualitative methodology in conjunction with a qualitative descriptive design. Thirteen focus groups were held with a purposeful, criterion-based sample of 57 acute care nurses practising in a range of acute care settings (e.g. Emergency, General Medicine, General Surgery, Intensive Care, Coronary Care). Data were thematically analysed. We identified two overarching themes: (1) IPC is improving, but nurses are excluded from decision-making and (2) nurse advocacy causes friction with other professionals. The first theme captures nurses' perception that IPC in older people's care is improving, but nurses are marginalised in interprofessional decision-making. As a result, nurses perceive that their knowledge is devalued, and their contributions to care supporting older people's functioning are undermined. The second theme underlines a tension between interprofessional team practices and patient- and family-centred care, while also demonstrating nurses' increasing willingness to act as patient and family advocates. Findings can be used to enhance IPC in care supporting the functioning of acutely hospitalised older people. To improve IPC, clinical and administrative leaders should cultivate more egalitarian team relationships that encourage nurses to contribute to decision-making and advocate on behalf of older patients and their families.

Perceptions of interprofessional team collaboration among professionals working in the occupational health service in Sweden.

Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) among professionals in occupational health (OH) services is crucial when rendering a service to clients and customers. The aim of this study was to describe and compare perceptions relating to IPC among professionals working as OH providers in Sweden. This cross-sectional study with a descriptive and comparative design included 456 respondents representing different OH professions in Sweden. Data were collected using the Swedish short version of the Assessment of Interprofessional Team Collaboration Scale adapted for OH ([AITCS]-SII[OH]), with its 3 subscales Partnership, Cooperation, and Coordination, and were analyzed and presented descriptively. Items and sum scores were dichotomized into inadequate and adequate and compared between sexes, workplaces, types of employment, and professions. According to the responses, items related to openness, honesty, and trust were perceived as adequate among the respondents. The findings show that perceptions about IPC differed among the professions. The perception of IPC also differed between different types of organizations. The results show diverse perceptions between professionals and organizations. The perception of IPC may be influenced by the professional's education in occupational safety and health. Study findings may be used to support further development of IPC in the OH service for the benefit of the clients. To develop IPC in the best interests of both professionals and customers/clients, further studies need to be performed to gain a deeper understanding of IPC in the OH context.

Protecting Personhood: A Classic Grounded Theory.

The importance of perceiving and considering patients as healthcare partners has been increasingly promoted. Healthcare systems around the world are now highly interested in patient engagement, participation, collaboration, and partnership. Healthcare professionals are advised that patients, as autonomous beings, should be active in and responsible for a portion of their own care. The study presented here focused on patients' perceptions of interprofessional collaboration. It was conducted using the classic grounded theory methodology. The theory of protecting personhood emerged as the core concept of hospitalized patients, cared for by interprofessional healthcare teams. This theory encapsulates the process hospitalized patients go through to find balance in their sense of self, oscillating between personhood and patienthood in the unfamiliar hospital environment. The process consists of four stages: the stage of introspection, during which hospitalized patients become aware of their self as a person and as a patient; the stage of preservation, when patients find a balance between the sense of personhood and patienthood; the stage of rupture, wherein patients experience an imbalance between their sense of personhood and patienthood; and the stage of reconciliation, in which personhood is restored. The theory of protecting personhood offers insights into a better understanding of hospitalized patients' experiences and strategies, revealing the importance of relationships, and the driving force of empowerment. This study is about patients' perspectives of interprofessional healthcare teams. A grounded theory process allowed the emergence of patients' concerns and expectations, leading to a substantive theory grounded in the patients' data.

Nurses’ Perception of Interprofessional Collaboration in Hospitals in the Maldives

Introduction: The concept of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is widely used in healthcare organizations, where patients are treated. However, there is no definite terminology that can explain the term IPC. The aim of this research is to understand nurses’ perception of IPC in Hospitals in the Maldives. Methods: A cross -sectional survey was conducted among 292 nurses from two hospitals followed by Focus Group Discussions with 5 nurses from each hospital. The instrument tool used for the survey was “conceptualization of interdisciplinary collaboration” by D’Amour which was adapted for this study with 9 items and an expert validated open ended questionnaire. Results: The findings from the study shows positive responses for IPC1-Disciplinary groups do exchange information 58.65% (n=171), IPC2- Share clinical decision making 60.3% (n=176), IPC3-Patient data are collectively reviewed 62.7% (n=183), IPC4- Supports each other in the multidisciplinary team 59.2% (n=173), IPC5 highest rate of positive response was for “IPC 6- conflict resolution which was 63.7% (n=186), IPC7- common care plan 63.0% (n=184), IPC8- Data collected at one point is shared with the team 57.5% (n=168) and the lowest was for “IPC 9- level of collaboration -56.8% (n=166) respectively. Conclusion: This study revealed that importance should be given to promoting a culture of interprofessional collaboration in the hospitals of Maldives. Therefore, there is a need to address this and implement IPC with respect to all professionals, by mitigating the hierarchical differences in the healthcare system. Thus, it is crucial to educate all HCPs with regard to sustaining IPC.

Healthcare professionals and pregnant and post-natal women's perceptions of interprofessional collaboration in a maternity care facility: A qualitative study from Botswana

ObjectiveTo explore the perceptions of healthcare professionals and pregnant and post-natal women regarding interprofessional collaboration in a maternity care setting in Botswana, a low-to-middle-income country in Sub-Sahara Africa. DesignA descriptive qualitative design using in-depth interviews with forty participants, including healthcare professionals and women in maternity wards. Data were transcribed and thematically analysed. SettingAntenatal, delivery and post-natal maternity wards in a referral hospital that provides basic and specialist care in Botswana. ParticipantsWe interviewed 13 pregnant and post-natal women and 27 healthcare professionals in the maternity care wards. FindingsParticipants perceived several interrelated factors that influenced the delivery of interprofessional collaborative care. Interpersonal factors such as poor communication, disrespectful behaviours and inadequate teamwork practices prevented interprofessional collaboration. Other barriers to collaboration included lack of understanding of each other's roles and responsibilities, ineffective coordination of resources, hierarchical power struggles and poor collaborative leadership. Key conclusionsEffective interprofessional collaboration remains elusive in this maternity care setting. Healthcare systems in low-to-middle-income countries may benefit from interventions for healthcare professionals to learn and practice interprofessional collaborative care.

Attitudes Toward Interprofessional Health Care Teams in a Regional Cancer Institute: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

ObjectivesOncology is a rapidly changing clinical setting. Research has shown improved patient outcomes and staff satisfaction following interprofessional collaborative education, but there has been limited research on perceptions of interprofessional collaboration among oncology health care professionals. The aims of this study were to: 1) assess attitudes of health care professionals toward interprofessional teams in oncology care, and 2) assess for differences in attitudes across various demographic and workplace groups. Data SourcesThe research design was an electronic cross-sectional survey. The main instrument utilized was the Attitudes Toward Interprofessional Health Care Teams (ATIHCT) survey. A total of 187 oncology health care professionals from a regional New England cancer institute completed the survey. The ATIHCT mean score was high (M = 4.07, SD = 0.51). Analysis revealed statistically significant differences in mean score among participant age groups (P = .03). Significant differences (P = .01) were also noted between different professional groups and their time constraints sub-scale score on the ATIHCT scale. A higher mean score occurred in participants who had a current certification (M = 4.13, SD = 0.50) compared to those without (M = 4.05, SD = 0.46). ConclusionHigh overall scores in attitudes toward health care teams suggest that cancer care settings are primed for interprofessional care model implementation. Future studies should examine strategies to improve attitudes among specific groups. Implications for Nursing PracticeNurses are in a position to lead interprofessional teamwork in the clinical setting. Further research is necessary to examine best collaborative models in health care to support interprofessional teamwork.

Internationally Educated Nurses’ Perceptions of Interprofessional Collaboration

Internationally educated nurses’ (IENs) transition to practice in a new country is facilitated by education programs, commonly known as “bridging programs.” IENs experiences and understanding of interprofessional collaboration, essential in today’s health care environment, is often overlooked in education and research. Therefore, this mixed methods study sought to understand the experiences of IENs enrolled in a practical nursing bridging program at an urban community college in Canada. Findings indicate a need to address IENs’ understanding of interprofessional collaboration in their entry-to-practice education to optimize their role in the receiving country’s health care system.

Psychosocial interprofessional perinatal education: Design and evaluation of an interprofessional learning experience to improve students’ collaboration skills in perinatal mental health

BackgroundPerinatal mental health disorders are one of the leading causes of maternal illness and suffering and care and services need to be well coordinated by an interprofessional team who are skilled in working collaboratively. AimThe aim of this paper is to describe the design and evaluation of an innovative interprofessional education initiative to increase midwives and other health professional students’ knowledge and skills in caring collaboratively for women with psychosocial issues in the perinatal period, including women experiencing domestic and family violence. MethodsThe Psychosocial Interprofessional Perinatal Education workshop was designed for midwifery, psychology, social work and medical students. It provided a simulated learning experience with case studies based on real life situations. Students undertook pre and post surveys to measure changes in students’ perceptions of interprofessional collaboration and their experiences of participating in the interprofessional simulation-based learning activity. Quantitative survey data were analysed using paired t-tests and a qualitative content analysis was undertaken on the open-ended questions in the survey. FindingsComparison of pre and post surveys found students from all disciplines reported feeling more confident working interprofessionally following the workshop. The following categories were generated from analysis of the open ended survey data: Greater understanding of each others’ roles; Recognising benefits of interprofessional collaboration; Building on sense of professional identity; Respecting each other and creating a level playing field; and Filling a pedagogical gap. ConclusionThrough this innovative, simulated interprofessional education workshop students developed skills essential for future collaborative practice to support women and families experiencing psychosocial distress.

Using simulation-based interprofessional education to change attitudes towards collaboration among higher specialty trainee physicians and registered nurses: a mixed methods pilot study

ABSTRACT Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is important for delivering safe patient care and can be enhanced through interprofessional education (IPE). In postgraduate medical education, the most effective model for delivering IPE remains unclear. A multi-site non-randomized mixed methods study was undertaken to investigate the effectiveness of a simulation-based IPE (SB-IPE) intervention on changing attitudes among higher specialty trainee (HST) physicians in general internal medicine and registered nurses (RNs). The intervention, underpinned by intergroup contact theory, is comprised of paired participants (HSTs:RNs) undertaking six simulated scenarios. The Jefferson Scale of Attitudes toward Interprofessional Collaboration (JeffSATIC) was administered pre-and-post intervention. Focus groups were conducted to explore participants’ perceptions of IPC and the SB-IPE intervention. Fifty-six participants attended the SB-IPE intervention and 37 completed focus group interviews. Overall, attitudes toward IPC changed positively (p < .001), with greater change among HSTs (p = .001) compared to RNs (p = .12). Attitudes to “working relationships” significantly increased for HSTs (p < .001) but not RNs (p = .047). Focus group analysis identified three processes by which SB-IPE led to attitudinal change: 1) Shared vulnerability, 2) Positive affirmation, and 3) Negotiating professional hierarchies, mainly through relationship building. Further research is needed to investigate the long-term impact of attitudinal change, including the extent to which benefits transfer into practice.

Evaluation of an interprofessional collaborative practice training module for the management of children with autism spectrum disorder

BackgroundProtocols instituted for behavioral treatment and skills training programs for the management of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suffer from lack of collaborative approaches. The tenets of interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) focus on preparing a panel of health care professionals (HCPs) from different professions who can work together to enable the common goal of ensuring that children with ASD can participate in society. This study was designed to pilot this approach through an IPCP training module on ASD for care providers from multiple professions. MethodsAn interventional study with pre-post analysis began with formation of the interprofessional (IP) team, who developed an IPCP module, addressing the knowledge and skills needed for the collaborative management of neurodevelopmental issues of children with ASD. This module was delivered through an online training workshop using various teaching learning methods to the participants from seven different health professions after obtaining informed consent. Perceptions of interprofessional collaboration and competencies of IPCP were assessed using standard IP tools and reflective summaries and analyzed through a mixed-methods approach. ResultsA total of 42 HCPs from seven professions, including speech and hearing, occupational therapy, clinical psychology, physiotherapy, pediatrics, nursing, and pedodontics, participated in the study. Pre-post analysis of PINCOM-Q and Dow-IPEC data and thematic analysis revealed a significant difference in the perceptions of interprofessional collaboration and competencies’ levels of IPCP. ConclusionThis study suggests that use of IPCP principles in the training of professionals working with ASD is a promising and feasible option to develop more competent health professionals. The training enhanced the abilities of professionals to work in field of ASD as conveyed by the participants. They also expressed confidence in the knowledge of IP core competencies after the completion of the module.

Effect of Structured Briefing Prior to Patient Arrival on Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration in the Trauma Team.

PurposeTreating a multiple trauma patient is multidisciplinary team work. The performance of the trauma team is crucial to treating the patients safely and effectively. The fundamentals of the performance are the quality of interprofessional collaboration and the communication inside the team and its efficacy for patients’ safety and team’s well being. This is a prospective interventional study. The aim of this paper was to assess interprofessional collaboration and perceived efficacy inside the trauma team and to evaluate the effects of the implementation of a trauma team briefing tool before the arrival of the patient on perceived teamwork performance.Participants and MethodsThe study took place in the emergency department. Participants were members of the trauma team (emergency physicians and nurses). Two validated scales were selected that address interprofessional collaboration and team perceived efficacy: the TEAM survey (revised version) and the Mayo High Performance Teamwork Scale. A detailed and structured team briefing was used. The trauma team filled in the two scales (46 participants). Prior to every multiple trauma patient arrival, the briefing was then implemented for 3 months. At the end of the third month, the two scales were re-administered and the results analysed (31 participants). The main outcome was the variation of proportion of desirable answers. We considered significant only clearly separated confidence intervals (95% CI).ResultsAll items in the questionnaires had better responses in the second round. In 16 items, the differences found were statistically significant with a 95% confidence interval and p<0.05. The perceived communication and collaboration by healthcare professionals of the trauma team improved with the introduction of the tool.ConclusionA team briefing prior to the arrival of a multiple trauma patient enhances providers’ self perception of interprofessional collaboration in the management of multiple trauma patients.

Interprofessional collaboration in palliative dementia care through the eyes of informal caregivers.

A qualitative study was conducted to examine the experiences of informal caregivers of persons with dementia pertaining interprofessional collaboration with and among healthcare professionals in home care (HC), nursing homes and during home to nursing home transitions in palliative care. Semi-structured interviews were performed with bereaved informal caregivers. Data were analysed using a critical realist approach. The two main themes that emerged were: (1) Informal caregivers’ roles in interprofessional collaboration with healthcare professionals and (2) Informal caregivers’ perception of interprofessional collaboration among healthcare professionals. Informal caregivers’ roles were identified in three collaboration processes: information exchange, care process and shared decision-making. Interprofessional collaboration among healthcare professionals was more perceptible on the collaboration outcome level (e.g. being up to date with the health status of the person with dementia; acting proactive, being adequate and consistent in the care process; and giving a warm welcome) than on the collaboration processes level (e.g. communicating and being involved in team processes). Our study revealed that intrinsic and extrinsic factors and interprofessional collaboration among healthcare professionals affected informal caregivers’ collaborative roles. In summary, our study showed that informal caregivers have important roles as team members in the continuity and quality of palliative care for persons with dementia.

Enhancing Parents' Well-Being after Preterm Birth-A Qualitative Evaluation of the "Transition to Home" Model of Care.

There are few programs available aimed at preventing short- and long-term negative consequences after preterm birth and covering the entire care continuum. The “Transition to Home (TtH)” model is such a program, offering structured, individual support for families with preterm infants before and after hospital discharge. This study gathers and examines the parents’ views of receiving support from an interprofessional team under the TtH model of care during hospitalization and after discharge. Using a qualitative explorative design, 39 semi-structured interviews with parents were analyzed thematically. From this analysis, three main themes were identified: (1) TtH and the relevance of continuity of care; (2) Enhancement of parents’ autonomy and self-confidence; (3) Perception of interprofessional collaboration. Within these themes, the most relevant aspects identified were continuity of care and the appointment of a designated health care professional to anchor the entire care continuum. Emotional support complemented by non-medical approaches, along with strength-based and family resource-oriented communication, also emerged as key aspects. Continuous, family-centered care and well-organized interprofessional collaboration promote the well-being of the family after a premature birth. If the aspects identified in this study are applied, the transition from hospital to home will be smoothened for the benefit of affected families.

Being at EASE: Student Perceptions of Interprofessional Practice Following an Experiential Interprofessional Application for Sensitive Patient Encounters.

Learning to interact and collaborate with other professions is key to optimal patient care and is best achieved when started during one's education. This study implemented an interprofessional education simulation with family nurse practitioner and social work students utilizing standardized patients who presented with sensitive issues. The Student Perceptions of Interprofessional Clinical Education-Revised and Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale questionnaires were given before and after the activity. Significant changes were noted in both student groups regarding attitudes and perceptions of interprofessional collaboration. Interprofessional collaboration is crucial. Introducing interprofessional education in the education curriculum of health professionals can help future providers achieve essential competencies.