Healthcare Providers' Interprofessional Collaboration Experience with Integrated Information System for Non-Communicable Disease Management at Primary Care in Indonesia: A Qualitative Study.

Abstract

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) require holistic management, yet interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in primary care often faces challenges like fragmented services and inefficient information exchange. Integrated information systems have the potential to address these issues, but the system users' experiences regarding IPC in Indonesia remains understudied. This study aimed to explore healthcare providers' IPC experiences with the integrated information system for NCD management in primary care.

Methods: A qualitative study with descriptive phenomenology approach was done at Ogan Komering Ulu Regency, South Sumatra Province, Indonesia from January-March 2025. Fifteen healthcare professionals consisting of 5 nurses, 4 medical doctors, 3 midwives, and 3 public health workers were purposively selected based on their experience using the integrated information system for NCD services. Data were collected until data saturation through two focus group discussions lasting 130-150 minutes. Data analysis was done manually using the Collaizzi's method. Field notes were taken to capture non-verbal cues and contextual observations.

Results: Three themes emerged in this study, namely "enhanced IPC through information systems", "Optimized patient management via digital integration", and "Improved health workers' accessibility through adaptive technologies".

Conclusion: The integrated information system strengthened IPC and NCD management in primary care by streamlining workflows and improving data accessibility. The integrated information system could improve community-based care with enhancing collaborative patient care.