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Interprofessional Collaboration Experiences of Nurses in Patient Discharge Planning in Hospital: A Qualitative Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Effective interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in patient discharge planning is crucial in ensuring care continuity, improving patient outcomes, and strengthening interprofessional coordination. Nurses often serve as the primary coordinators due to consistent engagement in patient care. However, the implementation of IPC still faces barriers at the individual, team, and organizational levels. Many hospitals have adopted digital tools such as the Integrated Patient Progress Notes (IPPN) for information sharing. The use of these tools in supporting IPC remains suboptimal and is rarely explored comprehensively.
Objective:
This study aims to explore experiences of healthcare professionals in IPC during patient discharge planning in hospital, with a particular focus on the nursing perspective.
Methods:
: A qualitative study using a phenomenological method was conducted at hospital in Bukittinggi, West Sumatra. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and focused group discussions (FGDs), including nine healthcare professionals selected purposively, namely doctors (n=3), nurses (n=2), pharmacists (n=2), and dietitians (n=2). Furthermore, thematic analysis was performed to identify key patterns related to IPC practices and communication dynamics using the IPPN.
Results:
The results showed three key themes, namely (1) Individual understanding and motivation in IPC, including motivation, role expectations, personality style, and professional strengths; (2) Team or group, consisting of group leadership, management, communication, and social support; and (3) Organizational support for IPC, comprising collaborative culture, institutional goals, organizational domain, and organizational environment. Participants considered IPC as an essential tool used inefficiently for coordinating patient care across disciplines. Limitations were observed in terms of standardization, accessibility, and clarity of entries, which impacted timely and effective collaboration.
Conclusions:
This study showed that IPC practices were shaped by individual, team/group, and organizational factors, with IPC playing a potentially transformative role in facilitating digital communication. Strengthening the quality, accessibility, and training related to IPC implementation improved interprofessional coordination and enhanced patient discharge outcomes. Integrating optimization in the IPC framework could be a valuable strategy for advancing digital health.
Citation
