Interprofessional Collaboration and Health Outcomes: A Qualitative Systematic Review and Meta-Synthesis
Submitted by Yuri Jadotte on Dec 13, 2017 - 1:21pm CST
Several systematic reviews have been conducted on the relationship between interprofessional collaboration and health outcomes using quantitative studies. But no systematic review had yet been conducted on this topic using qualitative studies. The following paper addresses this gap. A systematic review was conducted. From the broad search of the literature, 9 studies were ultimately selected after screening and critical appraisal, and were include in the meta-synthesis. This systematic review of the qualitative evidence finds that interprofessional collaborative practice consists of an active commitment by all health care professionals to communicating effectively, working in teams, and clearly understanding each other’s roles for the common purpose of effectively and efficiently achieving optimal patient care. Attaining IPCP first and foremost requires that health care professionals overcome personal biases about themselves and each other, thereby facilitating effective collaboration-dependent coordination of continuous patient care. The latter entails the implementation of team-based problem solving approaches, where information is shared systematically, and a team leader is dedicated to ensuring that solutions generated by the team are carried forward within the context of shared decision making among health care professionals, the patients, and their families. Achievement of optimal patient care via IPCP requires that the lack of mutual accessibility of health care professionals, both in time and space, as well as the many social, economic, and cultural barriers that their patients face, all be addressed simultaneously. Recommendations for practice and future research are offered.
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