Interprofessional collaboration in diabetes care: perceptions of family physicians practicing in or not in a primary health care team
Abstract Background In Canada, most patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are cared for in the primary care setting in the practices of family physicians. This care is delivered through a variety of practice models ranging from a single practitioner to interprofessional team models of care....
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Family Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-019-0932-9 |
| _version_ | 1828807551057133568 |
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| author | Olga Szafran Sandra L. Kennett Neil R. Bell Jacqueline M. I. Torti |
| author_facet | Olga Szafran Sandra L. Kennett Neil R. Bell Jacqueline M. I. Torti |
| author_sort | Olga Szafran |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background In Canada, most patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are cared for in the primary care setting in the practices of family physicians. This care is delivered through a variety of practice models ranging from a single practitioner to interprofessional team models of care. This study examined the extent to which family physicians collaborate with other health professionals in the care of patients with T2DM, comparing those who are part of an interprofessional health care team called a Primary Care Network (PCN) to those who are not part of a PCN. Methods Family physicians in Alberta, Canada were surveyed to ascertain: which health professionals they refer to or have collaborative arrangements with when caring for T2DM patients; satisfaction and confidence with other professionals’ involvement in diabetes care; and perceived effects of having other professionals involved in diabetes care. Chi-squared and Fishers Exact tests were used to test for differences between PCN and non-PCN physicians. Results 170 (34%) family physicians responded to the survey, of whom 127 were PCN physicians and 41 were non-PCN physicians (2 not recorded). A significantly greater proportion of PCN physicians vs non-PCN physicians referred patients to pharmacists (23.6% vs 2.6%) or had collaborative working arrangements with diabetes educators (55.3% vs 18.4%), dietitians (54.5% vs 21.1%), or pharmacists (43.1% vs 21.1%), respectively. Regardless of PCN status, family physicians expressed greater satisfaction and confidence in specialists than in other family physicians or health professionals in medication management of patients with T2DM. Physicians who were affiliated with a PCN perceived that interprofessional collaboration enabled them to delegate diabetes education and monitoring and/or adjustment of medications to other health professionals and resulted in improved patient care. Conclusions This study sheds new insight on the influence that being part of a primary care team has on physicians’ practice. Specifically, supporting physicians’ access to other health professionals in the primary care setting is perceived to facilitate interprofessional collaboration in the care of patients with T2DM and improve patient care. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T08:27:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2251aa1db6444c7ba6c74712af1549ac |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2296 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T08:27:29Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-2251aa1db6444c7ba6c74712af1549ac2022-12-22T00:31:12ZengBMCBMC Family Practice1471-22962019-03-0120111010.1186/s12875-019-0932-9Interprofessional collaboration in diabetes care: perceptions of family physicians practicing in or not in a primary health care teamOlga Szafran0Sandra L. Kennett1Neil R. Bell2Jacqueline M. I. Torti3Department of Family Medicine, University of AlbertaEdmonton Oliver Primary Care Network, Family Medicine Clinic, Misericordia Community HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, University of Alberta, Family Medicine Clinic, Misericordia Community HospitalDepartment of Family Medicine, University of AlbertaAbstract Background In Canada, most patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are cared for in the primary care setting in the practices of family physicians. This care is delivered through a variety of practice models ranging from a single practitioner to interprofessional team models of care. This study examined the extent to which family physicians collaborate with other health professionals in the care of patients with T2DM, comparing those who are part of an interprofessional health care team called a Primary Care Network (PCN) to those who are not part of a PCN. Methods Family physicians in Alberta, Canada were surveyed to ascertain: which health professionals they refer to or have collaborative arrangements with when caring for T2DM patients; satisfaction and confidence with other professionals’ involvement in diabetes care; and perceived effects of having other professionals involved in diabetes care. Chi-squared and Fishers Exact tests were used to test for differences between PCN and non-PCN physicians. Results 170 (34%) family physicians responded to the survey, of whom 127 were PCN physicians and 41 were non-PCN physicians (2 not recorded). A significantly greater proportion of PCN physicians vs non-PCN physicians referred patients to pharmacists (23.6% vs 2.6%) or had collaborative working arrangements with diabetes educators (55.3% vs 18.4%), dietitians (54.5% vs 21.1%), or pharmacists (43.1% vs 21.1%), respectively. Regardless of PCN status, family physicians expressed greater satisfaction and confidence in specialists than in other family physicians or health professionals in medication management of patients with T2DM. Physicians who were affiliated with a PCN perceived that interprofessional collaboration enabled them to delegate diabetes education and monitoring and/or adjustment of medications to other health professionals and resulted in improved patient care. Conclusions This study sheds new insight on the influence that being part of a primary care team has on physicians’ practice. Specifically, supporting physicians’ access to other health professionals in the primary care setting is perceived to facilitate interprofessional collaboration in the care of patients with T2DM and improve patient care.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-019-0932-9Type 2 diabetes mellitusInterprofessional health teamFamily physiciansFamily practicePrimary health careCanada |
| spellingShingle | Olga Szafran Sandra L. Kennett Neil R. Bell Jacqueline M. I. Torti Interprofessional collaboration in diabetes care: perceptions of family physicians practicing in or not in a primary health care team BMC Family Practice Type 2 diabetes mellitus Interprofessional health team Family physicians Family practice Primary health care Canada |
| title | Interprofessional collaboration in diabetes care: perceptions of family physicians practicing in or not in a primary health care team |
| title_full | Interprofessional collaboration in diabetes care: perceptions of family physicians practicing in or not in a primary health care team |
| title_fullStr | Interprofessional collaboration in diabetes care: perceptions of family physicians practicing in or not in a primary health care team |
| title_full_unstemmed | Interprofessional collaboration in diabetes care: perceptions of family physicians practicing in or not in a primary health care team |
| title_short | Interprofessional collaboration in diabetes care: perceptions of family physicians practicing in or not in a primary health care team |
| title_sort | interprofessional collaboration in diabetes care perceptions of family physicians practicing in or not in a primary health care team |
| topic | Type 2 diabetes mellitus Interprofessional health team Family physicians Family practice Primary health care Canada |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12875-019-0932-9 |
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