Exploring experiences of Faculty of Health Sciences students on interprofessional collaboration in the healthcare settings in the Khomas region, Namibia.

Abstract

Background: Globally, interprofessional collaboration (IPC) has been shown to improve patient outcomes and foster teamwork. While IPC forms an integral part of healthcare delivery, enabling professionals from various disciplines to work together in achieving holistic patient care, in Namibia, there is little research on the experiences of Faculty of Health Sciences students on IPC.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of Faculty of Health Sciences students on IPC in healthcare settings within the Khomas Region, Namibia.

Setting: This study was conducted at the National University in Namibia.

Methods: A qualitative exploratory contextual design was used. Data were collected through individual, in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 16 Faculty of Health Sciences students. All interviews were audio recorded with a digital voice recorder followed by verbatim transcriptions, with the participants' permission. The collected data were analysed thematically to identify recurring themes.

Results: Three main themes emerged: (1) Understanding IPC as a learning and teamwork opportunity, (2) barriers to ineffective IPC in clinical settings and (3) mechanisms for enhancing IPC in healthcare settings.

Conclusion: This study revealed that IPC is seen as a pathway to better teamwork and improved patient care outcomes among healthcare students. However, addressing challenges such as fostering effective interprofessional relationships is crucial for optimising IPC in healthcare settings.

Contribution: Understanding student's experiences on IPC can contribute to the development of ongoing strategies and targeted interventions geared towards enhancing strong IPC and promoting teamwork, effective communication and improved patient-centred care.