Variables associated with interprofessional collaboration: a comparison between primary healthcare and specialized mental health teams.

BACKGROUND: This study has two aims: first, to identify variables associated with interprofessional collaboration (IPC) among a total of 315 Quebec mental health (MH) professionals working in MH primary care teams (PCTs, N = 101) or in specialized service teams (SSTs, N = 214); and second, to compare IPC associated variables in MH-PCTs vs MH-SSTs. METHODS: A large number of variables acknowledged as strongly related to IPC in the literature were tested. Multivariate regression models were performed on MH-PCTs and MH-SSTs respectively. RESULTS: Results showed that knowledge integration, team climate and multifocal identification were independently and positively associated with IPC in both MH-PCTs and MH-SSTs. By contrast, knowledge sharing was positively associated with IPC in MH-PCTs only, and organizational support positively associated with IPC in MH-SSTs. Finally, one variable (age) was significantly and negatively associated with IPC in SSTs. CONCLUSIONS: Improving IPC and making MH teams more successful require the development and implementation of differentiated professional skills in MH-PCTs and MH-SSTs by care managers depending upon the level of care required (primary or specialized). Training is also needed for the promotion of interdisciplinary values and improvement of interprofessional knowledge regarding IPC.

Profiling mental health professionals in relation to perceived interprofessional collaboration on teams.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims at identifying profiles of mental health professionals based on individual, interactional, structural and professional role characteristics related to interprofessional collaboration. METHODS: Mental health professionals (N = 315) working in primary health care and specialized mental health teams in four Quebec local service networks completed a self-administered questionnaire eliciting information on individual, interactional, structural and professional role characteristics. RESULTS: Cluster analysis identified four profiles of mental health professionals. Those with the highest interprofessional collaboration scores comprised two profiles labeled "highly collaborative female professionals with fewer conflicts and more knowledge sharing and integration" and "highly collaborative male professionals with fewer conflicts, more participation in decision-making and mutual trust." By contrast, the profile labeled "slightly collaborative professionals with high seniority, many conflicts and less knowledge integration and mutual trust" had the lowest interprofessional collaboration score. Another profile positioned between these groups was identified as "moderately collaborative female psychosocial professionals with less participation in decision-making." DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Organizational support, participation in decision-making, knowledge sharing, knowledge integration, mutual trust, affective commitment toward the team, professional diversity and belief in the benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration were features associated with profiles where perceived interprofessional collaboration was higher. These team qualities should be strongly encouraged by mental health managers for improving interprofessional collaboration. Training is also needed to promote improvement in interprofessional collaboration competencies.

Variables associated with interprofessional collaboration: The case of professionals working in Quebec local mental health service networks.

This study identified variables associated with interprofessional collaboration (IPC) among 315 mental health (MH) professionals working in primary health care (PHC) and specialized teams, within four Quebec (Canada) local service networks (LSNs). IPC was measured with a validated scale, and independent variables were organized according to a four-block conceptual framework that included Individual, Interactional, Organizational and Professional Role Characteristics. Bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Five variables were associated with Interactional Characteristics (knowledge sharing, knowledge integration, affective commitment toward the team, team climate, team autonomy), and one variable with Professional Role (multifocal identification) and Individual Characteristics (age), respectively. Findings suggest the importance of positive team climate, knowledge sharing and knowledge integration, professional and team identification (multifocal identification), team commitment and autonomy for strengthening IPC in MH teams. These results suggest that team managers should remain alert to behavioral changes and tensions in their teams that could signal possible deterioration in IPC, while promoting IPC competencies, and interdisciplinary values and skills, in team activities and training programs. As well, the encouragement of team commitment on the part of senior professionals, and support toward their younger counterparts, may enhance IPC in teams.