How can a community of practice support healthcare professionals navigating new roles? a case study of genetic counsellors employed to work in medical specialities.

Abstract

Background: Communities of Practice (CoPs) have been implemented in healthcare settings to enhance knowledge translation and facilitate the implementation of new practices. However, their role in supporting healthcare professionals transitioning to new environments remains under-researched. This study examines a CoP designed for genetic health professionals in Australia who were employed to support the integration of genomics in medical specialities. Informed by the i-PARIHS framework, we explore how the facilitation of a CoP external to the implementation setting can support health professionals implementing innovative practices.

Methods: Data was collected through qualitative interviews with 14 genetic counsellors participating in the CoP through different stages of their new roles, 35 discussion and reflection logs, and workshop and meeting notes. Thematic analyses were carried out to capture the patterns and process of facilitation performed by this CoP, resulting in five overarching themes.

Results: Participants highlighted the unique role of the CoP in forging peer connection and providing emotional support in new environments with a high degree of uncertainty and limited peer support. Through CoP sessions and associated professional development workshops, they benefited from ongoing knowledge acquisition about good practices and innovations. The CoP served as an effective space for identifying and solving problems collectively or escalating emergent issues. Additionally, the CoP helped participants build inter-personal skills to overcome relational challenges and improved communication with non-genetic colleagues about genomics. Critical reflection emerged as both a practice and an impact of the CoP, enabling participants to redefine their roles and adopt future-oriented thinking for the genetic counselling profession.

Conclusion: The collaborative environment fostered by the CoP offered significant benefits to genetic professionals, facilitating their transition to new practice settings and supporting essential knowledge and skill development crucial for their success in introducing genomics in speciality patient care.