Attitudes of Physicians and Nurses Toward Interprofessional Collaboration: a Systematic Literature Review.

Abstract

Background: Interprofessional collaboration involves coordinated efforts by professionals from various disciplines, such as physicians and nurses, aimed at improving patient care outcomes. This teamwork enhances cooperation among healthcare professionals with diverse expertise, contributing significantly to patient safety, satisfaction, expedited recovery, cost-effectiveness, and reduced mortality rates.

Objective: This paper explores the available evidence regarding the attitudes of physicians and nurses towards interprofessional collaboration and identifies factors that influence their willingness to engage in collaborative practice.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted spanning from 2016 to 2023, adhering to predefined criteria and the PRISMA guidelines and checklist. Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL Plus, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. The inclusion criteria comprised studies (regardless of design) addressing interprofessional collaboration, published within the last ten years, and involving both physicians and nurses. Only articles with full text access and written in English or Greek were included.

Results: The review identified 13 relevant studies. The analysis revealed that nurses generally exhibit more favourable attitudes towards interprofessional collaboration compared to physicians. Moreover, thematic analysis highlighted key factors influencing the attitudes of both nurses and physicians, including education level, age and years of experience.

Conclusion: This review highlights critical aspects and gaps in current literature, emphasizing the need for future research to further explore these areas. Findings also underscore the importance of incorporate these insights into hospital policies to effectively enhance interprofessional collaboration.