Purpose: Inter-professional collaboration and adaptation of e-health are necessary to implement innovative exercise and nutrition interventions in health practice. The aims of this qualitative study were 1) determine the relevant factors related to successful inter-professional collaboration, and 2) determine the relevant factors for implementation and susceptibility of our blended interventions in older adults, by allied health professionals in the Amsterdam metropolitan region.

Methods: This explorative qualitative study was the next step in implementation, subsequent to the VITAMIN RCT. We combined fourteen semistructured interviews with dietitians with two focus-groups of mixed exercise and physiotherapists. After each focus group and interview, the two researchers evaluated and discussed the statements, factors and common beliefs in relation to the research questions. Transcripts were analyzed with MAXQDA software and open, axial and selective coding was adapted.

Results: In current practice inter-professional collaboration is not common, mainly due to lacking knowledge about the other profession. Location is a facilitator, as well is previous experience. External factors as higher financial compensation to implement inter-professional work meetings, were defined as possible facilitator to collaboration. Main encouraging factors related to blended interventions were timesaving consults, ability to reach immobile older adults and cost saving healthcare. Main barrier was a lack of e-health literacy in older adults.

Conclusions: This study shows that the exercise and nutrition professionals have a positive attitude towards future implementation of these types of blended and combined interventions for older adults. Furthermore, inter-professional collaboration is a point of attention in our regional allied healthcare system.