Toward a Conceptual Framework for Digitally Supported Communication, Coordination, Cooperation, and Collaboration in Interprofessional Health Care: Scoping Review.

Abstract

Background: Digital tools for communication, coordination, cooperation, and collaboration (D4C), including electronic health records and specialized apps, are increasingly used in health care to ensure continuity of care across professional boundaries. Despite their growing adoption, there is a lack of precise and clear definitions, and no common understanding of D4C within health care.

Objective: This study aims to explore the concepts and definitions of digitally supported communication, coordination, cooperation, and collaboration by mapping the individual attributes to build a foundation for the operationalization of these concepts and to generate a clear and precise understanding of these concepts in research, practice, and policy.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted across MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus to identify studies on D4C. We included peer-reviewed studies in English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish published since 2012. Definitions of the modes of interaction (communication, coordination, cooperation, and collaboration) and the digital tool supporting these interactions, along with their definitions in cited references, were extracted and analyzed.

Results: Of the 407 identified papers addressing D4C, 6.1% (n=25) defined the digital concept and 6.6% (n=27) defined the interaction supported by the digital tool, with even fewer being backed by a reference. The analysis of the definitions revealed a hierarchical framework, detailing dimensions, requisites, and goals for each mode of interaction and the digital tool. It delineates progression from communication to collaboration: communication enables the exchange of information; coordination involves organizing people, resources, and activities; cooperation focuses on dividing tasks to achieve shared goals; and collaboration, at the apex, involves jointly addressing care needs. Each mode of interaction can be supported by digital tools.

Conclusions: The proposed framework offers a structured approach to establish a shared understanding of the concept of D4C. This unified understanding can serve as a foundation for developing objectives related to the implementation and evaluation of digital tools aimed at fostering interprofessional interactions in health care. As such, it can inform stakeholders in their understanding of D4C, possibly improving workflows and patient care. Further research is needed to operationalize and validate the framework across health care settings.

International registered report identifier (irrid): RR2-10.2196/45179.