Research

BC Medical Association

Working Together: Enhancing Multidisciplinary Primary Care in BC, includes findings from a survey of BC's family physicians, is the result of more than one year of study and reviews, and concludes with key recommendations to enhance primary care. http://www.in-bc.ca/docs/MDC_Report.pdf

Creating a Culture for Interdisciplinary Collaborative Professional Practice by C.A. Orchard, V. Curran, S. Kabene

A client-centred collaborative professional practice model is proposed in this paper as a means for fostering and facilitating the culture for this change. http://www.med-edonline.org/pdf/T0000063.pdf

Developing and Measuring Progress toward Collaborative, Integrated, Interdisciplinary Health Care Teams. (Abstract)

This article reports the results of a longitudinal study of an intervention to enhance interdisciplinary team functioning in a primary care setting. Components of the team development intervention are outlined. Team members' assessments of progress towards expressing values consistent with an effective team—as measured through the System for the Multiple Level Observation of Groups (SYMLOG)—are presented and discussed. Institutional, organizational, and team related supports and barriers that affect the development of collaborative, integrated teams are identified and discussed; implications for ensuring teams' success are presented. JOURNAL OF INTERPROFESSIONAL CARE, VOL. 18, NO. 2, MAY 2004. http://www.educationarena.com/educationarena/sample/sample_pdfs8/cjic18_2.pdf

Health Care Innovation Unit

The mission of the Health Care Innovation Unit (HCIU) is to be a national and international centre for policy and innovation in health care workforce and regulation. The unit is located in the United Kingdom. In addition, the unit has a major role in the development of new roles and education for the health care workforce as well as a close working partnership with the National Health Service and other health care professionals including other education providers. Publications available on the evaluation of interprofessional learning. http://www.hciu.soton.ac.uk/2_innovations/Default.asp

Family Medicine in Canada: Vision for the Future November 2004

This document is focused on the needs of family physicians. However, there are many recommendations made that support teams and suggest funding other health professionals and information technology advances. http://www.cfpc.ca/local/files/Communications/Health%20Policy/FAMILY_MEDICINE_IN_CANADA_English.pdf

Interdisciplinary Collaboration for Health Professional Education in Cancer Control - Journal Article Abstract

Background. Overlapping responsibilities of health care delivery professionals in the United States has propelled medical, graduate nursing, and public health schools to rethink their curricula. The University of Massachusetts Medical School implemented the Cancer Prevention and Control Education (CPACE) initiative, an interdisciplinary curriculum focusing on behavioral and psychosocial aspects of cancer prevention, control, and research. Methods. An interdisciplinary Operations Committee developed courses, clerkships, and programs. Continuing education programs stressed the team approach. Results and Discussion. CPACE teaching objectives were congruent in the three schools, but logistical issues were challenging. Positive pre-evaluations and post-evaluations indicated potential for shaping a collaborative attitude among health care professionals. Journal of Cancer Education, Vol. 19, No. 1: pages 37-44. http://www.leaonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1207/s15430154jce1901_10

Preparing for Change, Social Work in Primary Health Care

This document reviews the current place held by social workers in primary health care and where the profession should go with the transformation of the health system. Collaboration with other professions is discussed. http://www.caswacts.ca/

Research Collective on the Organization of PHC services in Quebec by R. Pineault, P. Tousignant, et al.

A new research synthesis on primary healthcare services in Quebec. The report analyses the findings of 30 primary healthcare projects and centers on three main issues: accessibility and continuity of services; factors associated with effects; and the processes governing the implementation of integrated, inter-professional collaboration mechanisms, and new information and communication technologies. http://www.chsrf.ca/research_themes/pdf/summary_report_e.pdf