Imad Abdul Rahim AL Husami and Dr. Suhaila Binti Sanip
This study aimed to explore the factors that influence Interprofessional Collaboration in Primary Health Care among physicians, medical students, nurses, and nursing students in Oman. The objectives include exploring health practitioners' attitudes toward Interprofessional collaboration, differences in attitudes among nursing and medical students, and differences among physicians and nurses in PHC settings. Additionally, the study seeks to examine the relationship between Interprofessional identity, readiness for Interprofessional learning, attitudes toward IPC, and barriers to IPC affecting readiness for change among healthcare professionals. Using a sequential explanatory mixed methods design, data was collected from medical students, nursing students, PHC physicians, and PHC nurses using multiple scales. The quantitative analysis revealed no significant difference in Interprofessional identity scores between medical and nursing students. The readiness for Interprofessional collaboration was weakly correlated with Interprofessional identity, with readiness scores also not differing significantly between the two groups. Socio-demographic factors did not show a significant association with Interprofessional identity, while multivariate analysis highlighted Interprofessional identity and marital status as significant factors affecting readiness for Interprofessional collaboration. Findings related to PHC physicians and nurses showed no significant difference in attitude scores between the two groups, with age and attitude toward IPC displaying significant associations with readiness for IPC. In conclusion, creating a supportive environment that encourages readiness for change towards IPC, in addition to addressing the barriers to IPC will be able to promote Interprofessional education, enhance interprofessional identity and bridging the difference in attitudes towards IPC.
