Care Leaders’ Experiences of Collaboration between Healthcare Professions in Primary Care: An Explorative Qualitative Study

Background: The need for interprofessional collaboration in increasing, because a single professional group can no longer meet patients’ increasingly complex and multifaceted health-related problems and needs. Researchers have found that effective interprofessional collaboration is needed, especially in primary care.

Aim: The aim of the study was to explore care leaders’ experiences of collaboration between different healthcare professions in primary care.

Methodology: An explorative qualitative design and qualitative content analysis were used. Data were collected in February and March 2021. The data material consists of texts from interviews with care leaders working in outpatient care in a primary care setting. The method was inspired by content analysis.

Results: Six main themes emerged: Physically close interaction, inclusion of clients and understanding clients’ individual needs; Quick flow of communication, participation and common approach; Inclusion of other professions and sectors, and non-hierarchical work; Capacity for interaction and cooperation, respect for others’ knowledge, commitment to change and utilization of potential; Purposeful action, enablement of developmental work and boundary-crossing work; Commitment of management, prioritization, structured action, justification and clear division of work.

Conclusion: Factors considered to promote interprofessional collaboration are physically close interaction, inclusion of clients, understanding clients’ individual needs, quick flow of communication, participation and common approach, inclusion of other professions and sectors, and non-hierarchical work. A focus on collaboration between different professions in other healthcare sectors could be included in future research.