Interprofessional collaboration between general practitioners and home nurses in Belgium: a participatory action research

Introduction: Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC) has long been considered as an essential principle underpinning effective primary health care, [1]. The Belgian primary care level is characterized by a shortage of General practitioners (GPs), the absence of shared patients list between GPs and home nurses, and a diversity of practices and payment systems. The Belgian population is aging and suffering from chronic diseases [2]. It becomes essential to enable primary healthcare providers to face these sociodemographic changes and increased health and social care needs. We therefore aim at 1)... Mehr ...

Verfasser: Marlène Karam
Christiane Duchesnes
André Crismer
Jean Macq
JeanLuc Belche
Dokumenttyp: Artikel
Erscheinungsdatum: 2019
Reihe/Periodikum: International Journal of Integrated Care, Vol 19, Iss 4 (2019)
Verlag/Hrsg.: Ubiquity Press
Schlagwörter: interprofessional collaboration / primary care / participatory action research / Medicine (General) / R5-920
Sprache: Englisch
Permalink: https://search.fid-benelux.de/Record/base-27003393
Datenquelle: BASE; Originalkatalog
Powered By: BASE
Link(s) : https://doi.org/10.5334/ijic.s3460

Introduction: Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC) has long been considered as an essential principle underpinning effective primary health care, [1]. The Belgian primary care level is characterized by a shortage of General practitioners (GPs), the absence of shared patients list between GPs and home nurses, and a diversity of practices and payment systems. The Belgian population is aging and suffering from chronic diseases [2]. It becomes essential to enable primary healthcare providers to face these sociodemographic changes and increased health and social care needs. We therefore aim at 1) assessing IPC between GPs and nurses; 2) identifying target priorities for improving IPC; and 3) endorsing their improvement projects. Methods: A participatory action research (PAR) was initiated based on the methodological scheme for health systems research of Mercenier [3]. Six groups of GPs and nurses were chosen based on diversity of practices, payment systems, environment, and resources. Researchers met on a monthly basis with participants of each area. The conceptual model of Reeves on teamwork was used as a descriptive model for this PAR[4]. Preliminary results (ongoing research): Each group performed a SWOT analysis of their collaborative practice. Identified strengths were about shared values and objectives, previous positive experiences of IPC, and recognition of each other’s competencies and specific roles. Weaknesses revolved around managerial and informational fragmentation, hierarchical relations, lack of trust, lack of consideration, and lack of responsibilities clarification. Opportunities and threats were related to the different financing systems which impeded or facilitated multidisciplinary team meetings and communication, the weak functional integration, the shortage of workforces, the lack of shared patients list, and the lack of of interprofessional education. Two issues were co-identified as common priorities: communication and task delegation. Actions prioritized by each area were related to these ...