Promoting Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice in Rural Health Settings: Learnings from a State-Wide Multi-Methods Study

Priya Martin; Alison Pighills; Vanessa Burge; Geoff Argus; Lynne Sinclair

doi:10.3390/ijerph18105162

Promoting Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice in Rural Health Settings: Learnings from a State-Wide Multi-Methods Study

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 May 13;18(10):5162. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18105162.

Authors

Priya Martin^{1

2}, Alison Pighills³, Vanessa Burge⁴, Geoff Argus^{5

6}, Lynne Sinclair⁷

Affiliations

¹ Cunningham Centre, Darling Downs Health, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia.
² Faculty of Medicine, Rural Clinical School, The University of Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia.
³ Mackay Institute of Research and Innovation, Mackay Base Hospital, Mackay, QLD 4740, Australia.
⁴ Division of Allied Health, Darling Downs Health, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia.
⁵ Southern Queensland Rural Health, The University of Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia.
⁶ School of Psychology and Counselling, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia.
⁷ Centre for Interprofessional Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 2C1, Canada.

Abstract

Evidence is mounting regarding the positive effects of Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) on healthcare outcomes. Despite this, IPECP is only in its infancy in several Australian rural healthcare settings. Whilst some rural healthcare teams have successfully adopted an interprofessional model of service delivery, information is scarce on the factors that have enabled or hindered such a transition. Using a combination of team surveys and individual semi-structured team member interviews, data were collected on the enablers of and barriers to IPECP implementation in rural health settings in one Australian state. Using thematic analysis, three themes were developed from the interview data: IPECP remains a black box; drivers at the system level; and the power of an individual to make or break IPECP. Several recommendations have been provided to inform teams transitioning from multi-disciplinary to interprofessional models of service delivery.

Keywords: collaborative practice; continuing professional development; interprofessional education; rural health; rural healthcare teams.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australia
Cooperative Behavior*
Interprofessional Education
Interprofessional Relations*
Patient Care Team
Rural Health