Poor interprofessional communication has been linked to decreased quality of patient care and increased numbers of medical errors. Increased occupational stress due to lack of effective interprofessional communication can lead to poor job satisfaction and burnout. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to interprofessional communication as perceived by radiologic technologists. In particular, how did demographic data influence these perceptions? The research was conducted during June of 2009. The population for this survey consisted of registered radiologic technologists employed at hospitals in Northeast Tennessee. A locally developed survey questionnaire covering the subject of interprofessional communication was distributed to a cluster sample directly involved in patient care. Participants indicated that interprofessional communication effects their occupational stress and job satisfaction in addition to the quality of patient care. This analysis revealed that radiographers experienced the most difficulty communicating with nurses.

No description available.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of an interdisciplinary intervention on interdisciplinary teamwork and patient functional outcomes in an acute inpatient rehabilitation unit at a mid-sized regional hospital. Design: Pilot mixed-methods pre-post intervention study. Methods: Interdisciplinary teamwork and patient functional outcomes were measured before and after a teamwork intervention. Interdisciplinary teamwork was measured with the Healthcare Team Vitality Instrument (HTVI) and a qualitative staff questionnaire developed by a content expert. Patient functional outcomes were measured by aggregated Functional Independence Measure (FIM®) scores. Findings: Post-intervention FIM® gain scores increased significantly (p = .008). Staff questionnaire revealed improvement in interdisciplinary teamwork, with the major themes of teamwork and appreciation/respect. Post-intervention HTVI showed no significant change (p=.528). Conclusions: Initial results of this intervention are promising; additional research is needed to study the effectiveness of this intervention in a variety of acute rehabilitation settings. Clinical Relevance: Rehabilitation leaders can implement low-cost teamwork interventions to improve interdisciplinary teamwork and patient outcomes.

Background: The quality of team-based care impacts patient post-hospitalization outcomes, yet there is a gap in our understanding of how specific team processes impact patient post-hospitalization outcomes. Shared Mental Models (SMMs) is a team process from organizational psychology; it provides an understanding of how providers coordinate complex tasks as a team. SMMs are the team members’ organized knowledge needed for effective team performance. Military research shows that teams with more convergent SMMs have higher performance and better outcomes. In healthcare, patient discharge exemplifies an activity that requires a high level of coordination among interprofessional team members. Two relevant domains of SMMs are Taskwork SMM (team assessment of patient’s readiness for hospital discharge) and Teamwork SMM (quality of day of discharge teamwork). Because of the newness of SMM to healthcare, we lack measures to understand SMMs among interprofessional discharge teams. Study Purpose & Aims: The purpose was to pilot a novel measurement approach assessing SMMs of discharge teams, and explore their relationships to patient 30-day post-hospitalization outcomes (quality of care transition and utilization of unplanned medical services). Aim 1 determined the content and degree of convergence of discharge teams’ SMMs (taskwork and teamwork). Aim 2 examined the relationship between discharge team SMMs and patient post-hospitalization outcomes. Methods: A prospective longitudinal pilot study was used to examine the SMMs of 64 unique discharge events in three inpatient units at a single hospital. Discharge team members independently completed a questionnaire measuring the Teamwork SMM (using the Shared Mental Model Scale) and the Taskwork SMM (using the Discharge Provider-Readiness for Hospital Discharge Scale). Data were collected from the patient 30 days post-discharge to determine the quality of transition (using the Care Transition Measure or CTM-15) and use of unplanned utilization of medical services (unplanned readmission or ED visit). Interrater Agreement (r*wg(j)) was used to determine the SMM convergence (or level of agreement) among the discharge team. The relationship between SMMs and the quality of transition outcome (n = 42) was determined using standard regression analysis. Logistic regression was used determine the relationship of SMMs with utilization of unplanned medical services (n = 56). Results: Overall, discharge teams reported high levels of Taskwork SMMs (M = 8.46, SD =.91) and Taskwork SMM Convergence (M = .90, SD =.10), indicating that the discharge team perceived and agreed that patients had high levels of readiness for hospital discharge. Discharge teams also reported having high-quality Teamwork SMMs (M = 6.11, SD = 0.39) and Teamwork SMM Convergence (M = .85, SD = .10), suggesting that most discharge teams perceived and agreed that high quality teamwork was provided during the discharge process. Discharge events from the three inpatient units significantly differed in their Teamwork and Teamwork SMM content and convergence scores. Discharge teams’ Teamwork SMMs and Taskwork SMMs were positively associated with the CTM-15 score, while controlling for key contextual factors (t = 3.94, p = .001; t = 3.94, p = .001, respectively). Conclusion : Discharge teams’ Taskwork SMM and Teamwork SMM was positively associated with patient-reported quality of transition from the hospital. There was insufficient evidence to support that utilization of unplanned medical services is related to discharge teams’ SMMs. Measuring the SMMs of the discharge team provides a method for assessing a team process critical to safe patient discharges.

Abstract available in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.

Interprofessional education (IPE), a concept that brings students from different health care professions together in the learning process, has been adopted by some physical therapy (PT) schools as an alternative to traditional PT-only curricula. Both approaches have the goal of improving patient outcomes for an increasingly diverse population. There was a void in the research comparing IPE and traditional curricula in PT education. Grounded in the theoretical frameworks of adult and social learning theory, the purpose of this study was to examine differences in students' self-efficacy, cultural competence, and perceptions of the learning environment based on curricular type and prior to their first clinical internship. The nonexperimental, causal-comparative research design was used to test a single research question about differences in the 4 dependent variables based on curriculum format (IPE or traditional) for a balanced, random sample of 218 preclinical students from 6 different PT programs. The results of Hotelling's T2 and post hoc analysis revealed statistically significant, higher self-efficacy scores for students in IPE curriculum than ones in the traditional curriculum. No significant differences were found related to cultural competence and perception of learning environment. Results suggest that future research could examine the relationship between self-efficacy and cultural competence. The positive social change implication for this research was that preclinical PT students' in an IPE curriculum had increased self-efficacy as compared to those in traditional curricula. This information can be used to provide direction for PT programs as they work toward delivering exceptional educational experiences in order to improve patient outcomes and better society.

Background: Oral health is an integral part of the general health and quality of life. Yet oral health among older people requiring nursing care is often poor. Despite this group’s frequent contact with health care services, they tend to lose contact with dental care. In nursing care, nursing staff are tasked to assist with oral hygiene care, but this has become more demanding as many older people retain more teeth or have advanced prosthetic constructions. Previous research in the field emphasised the need of collaboration between dental- and nursing care to support the nursing staff in this task. However, there is a lack of evidence regarding the effects of these collaborations. Aim: The overall aim of the thesis is to examine two oral health programmes used within nursing care with different design regarding support from and collaboration with dental care. Methods: Quantitative research methods was used. The data in Study I comes from an oral health assessments guide (ROAG-J) performed by nursing staff in a national health register. Oral health, assessed at two occasions from older people with nursing care, were used. Study II was a controlled intervention study performed at a nursing home. The intervention involved individual coaching of nursing staff in oral hygiene care by dental hygienist for four hours per week at the ward for a period of three months. Oral assessments of older people were performed by dental hygienists and questionnaires to nursing home staff were used. Result: In Study I, 667 individuals aged 65 years or older, receiving nursing care services and assessed using ROAG-J between November 2011 and March 2014 were included. No statistically significant difference in any of the oral health variables was found between the first and subsequent assessments. At the first assessments, less than one third of participants had oral health problems. At the first assessment, status of the tongue differed in men and women (p < .01); at the subsequent assessment, gender differences were found in voice (p < .05), mucous membranes (p < .003), tongue (p < .01), and saliva (p < .006). In Study II, 33 nursing staff and 48 residents participated at the baseline measurement and 22 and 32 respectively at the 9-month follow-up. The nursing staff changed in knowledge and attitudes related to gum disease, approximal cleaning, usage of fluoride and the likelihood that older persons would express the need for oral health support. The most frequently reported oral health problems among the residents pertained to teeth and gums. The residents relatively high level of oral health was stable during the study period. Conclusions: The participants in the oral health programmes were able to maintain an acceptable level of oral health during the study periods although health was likely to decline. The nursing staff maintained a high level of knowledge and attitudes about oral health. However, there seems to be a discrepancy regarding the prevalence of oral health problems among older people. A collaboration between dental- and nursing care providers indicates a positive influence on providing oral hygiene care.

<p><em>Aim:</em> To evaluate nurse student’s apprehension of an interprofessional seminar as part of training. <em>Method:</em> A descriptive, qualitative study built on the analysis of 43 questionnaires and one group interview with nurse student’s who participated in the seminar. For the analysis of the collected material we used the method of analysis of contents as described by Graneheim and Lundman. <em>Primary results:</em> The analysis highlights five different categories which show the nurse student’s apprehension of the seminar. From the analysis of contents it was established that questions remained unanswered after the seminar and that there remained some uncertainty as for the carrying through of the seminar. It was however also established that the seminar helped the students to gain insight about the profession of physiotherapists and the importance of cooperation. All in all, the students apprehended interprofessional education as a valid part of training. <em>Conclusion:</em> An interprofessional seminar together with physiotherapists was a great initiative taken by the responsible for the nursing course. It is important, however, that the information and the tasks are well prepared, and that there is valid follow-up to any interprofessional seminar, in order to make it as successful as possible.</p> / <p><em>Syfte:</em> Utvärdera sjuksköterskestudenters uppfattning av interprofessionellt seminarium som utbildningsmoment. <em>Metod:</em> Deskriptiv studie med kvalitativ ansats med enkäter och en fokusgruppintervju. 43 enkäter och en fokusgruppintervju med sjuksköterskestudenter som deltog i det interprofessionella seminariet analyserades med hjälp av Graneheim och Lundmans innehållsanalys.<em> Huvudresultat: </em>Utifrån analysen framkom fem kategorier som belyser hur sjuksköterskestudenterna uppfattade det interprofessionella seminariet. Ur innehållsanalysen framkom att sjuksköterskestudenterna hade kvarstående frågor efter seminariet och att det fanns otydligheter kring seminariets genomförande. Det framkom även att seminariet gav insikt i betydelsen av samarbete, förståelse för sjukgymnasternas profession samt att studenterna upplevde interprofessionell utbildning som ett bra utbildningsmoment. <em>Slutsats:</em> Att genomföra ett interprofessionellt seminarium tillsammans med sjukgymnaster var ett bra initiativ av ansvariga på sjuksköterskeprogrammet. Det är dock viktigt att förberedelserna, informationen och uppgifterna är väl förberedda och att det finns en bra uppföljning, detta för att den interprofessionella utbildningen ska bli så bra som möjlig.</p>

The purpose of this study is to learn about the professional development practices of physiotherapists working in long-term care homes in Ontario. A survey was created based on relevant literature and piloted for this study. The survey included both quantitative and open-ended questions. 44 Physiotherapist responded, which represents approximately 10% of physiotherapists working in long-term care in Ontario. The results indicate that physiotherapists are isolated from their physiotherapist peers and lack access to communities of practice, professional socialisation, professional culture and social regulation. Although physiotherapists’ interactions with interprofessional teams added breadth to their knowledge, these interactions did not enhance their profession-specific skills. Many physiotherapists are seeking professional community and social supports in healthcare settings outside of the long-term care context. The implications of this study are that physiotherapists, their professional associations, and their college must understand the importance of professional socialization in learning, and ensure that physiotherapists working in long-term care have access to and seek such social support. Physiotherapy service providers in long-term care should provide mentoring, support and opportunities for social learning for their clinicians. Finally, long-term care homes and the Ministry of Health and Long-term care need to ensure that policies provide a better definition of the role of physiotherapists in long-term care.

Background: Considerable attention has been paid to evaluating the roles and relationships of professionals participating in team-based or collaborative practice; however, less attention has been paid to exploring the patients’ views and impact of such practice despite claims of it being patient-centred. Objectives: To examine the relationship between patient and provider characteristics and patients’ ratings of measures of quality of care and integration, and to explore the patient views of care delivered in a patient-centred collaborative study involving chiropractors and physicians. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Method: A mixed methods sequential approach with a quantitative priority was used in data analysis. Quantitative data were collected from 2597 patients participating in a collaborative study involving chiropractors and physicians and 530 patients attending chiropractors not involved in collaborative care. All participants presented with musculoskeletal pain. The Primary Care Assessment Survey (PCAS) was modified and scores from six of its scales were used to assess attributes of quality patient-centred care between the two study groups. Qualitative transcript-based data from six purposefully selected focus groups was analyzed using an interpretivist approach. Results: The revised PCAS demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties. Patients in both study groups received quality, patient-centred care. Patients’ reporting being completely satisfied and feeling improved by their care was positively associated with rating chiropractors as high performers on all scales. Survey findings were confirmed in focus groups of study patients. Patients appreciated positive interpersonal interactions, sharing in the treatment decision-making process, having a choice in provider and treatment, and the provision of holistic care. Patients perceived that collaboration between chiropractors and physicians varied, favouring those who were co-located. Patients with chronic or co-morbid conditions desired greater involvement in their care. Patients felt sharing of clinical information was more important than co-location as facilitating coordination and integration of collaborative care. Conclusion: The study suggests that patients suffering from musculoskeletal pain benefit from interprofessional collaborative care that includes improved access to and choice of providers and treatment options, as well as enhanced interprofessional communication and coordination of care.