Background: As our global population ages, malnutrition and sarcopenia are increasingly prevalent. Given the multifactorial nature of these conditions, effective management of (risk of) malnutrition and sarcopenia necessitates interprofessional collaboration (IPC). This study aimed to understand primary and social care professionals’ barriers, facilitators, preferences, and needs regarding interprofessional management of (risk of) malnutrition and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: We conducted a qualitative, Straussian, grounded theory study. We collected data using online semi-structured focus group interviews. A grounded theory data analysis was performed using open, axial, and selective coding, followed by developing a conceptual model. Results: We conducted five online focus groups with 28 professionals from the primary and social care setting. We identified five selective codes: 1) Information exchange between professionals must be smooth, 2) Regular consultation on the tasks, responsibilities, and extent of IPC is needed; 3) Thorough involvement of older adults in IPC is preferred; 4) Coordination of interprofessional care around the older adult is needed; and 5) IPC must move beyond healthcare systems. Our conceptual model illustrates three interconnected dimensions in interprofessional collaboration: professionals, infrastructure, and older adults. Conclusion: Based on insights from professionals, interprofessional collaboration requires synergy between professionals, infra-structure, and older adults. Professionals need both infrastructure elements and the engagement of older adults for successful interprofessional collaboration.
Background: Due to multimorbidity and geriatric problems, older people often require both psychosocial and medical care. Collaboration between medical and social professionals is a prerequisite to deliver high-quality care for community-living older people. Effective, safe, and person-centered care relies on skilled interprofessional collaboration and practice. Little is known about interprofessional education to increase interprofessional collaboration in practice (IPCP) in the context of community care for older people. This study examines the feasibility of the implementation of an IPCP program in three community districts and determines its potential to increase interprofessional collaboration between primary healthcare professionals caring for older people. Method: A feasibility study was conducted to determine the acceptability and feasibility of data collection and analysis regarding interprofessional collaboration in network development. A questionnaire was used to measure the learning experience and the acquisition of knowledge and skills regarding the program. Network development was assessed by distributing a social network survey among professionals attending the program as well as professionals not attending the program at baseline and 5.5 months after. Network development was determined by calculating the number, reciprocity, value, and diversity of contacts between professionals using social network analysis. Results: The IPCP program was found to be instructive and the knowledge and skills gained were applicable in practice. Social network analysis was feasible to conduct and revealed a spill-over effect regarding network development. Program participants, as well as non-program participants, had larger, more reciprocal, and more diverse interprofessional networks than they did before the program. Conclusions: This study showed the feasibility of implementing an IPCP program in terms of acceptability, feasibility of data collection, and social network analysis to measure network development, and indicated potential to increase interprofessional collaboration between primary healthcare professionals. Both program participants and non-program participants developed a larger, more collaborative, and diverse interprofessional network.
The pressure on the European health care system is increasing considerably: more elderly people and patients with chronic diseases in need of (rehabilitation) care, a diminishing work force and health care costs continuing to rise. Several measures to counteract this are proposed, such as reduction of the length of stay in hospitals or rehabilitation centres by improving interprofessional and person-centred collaboration between health and social care professionals. Although there is a lot of attention for interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP), the consortium senses a gap between competence levels of future professionals and the levels needed in rehabilitation practice. Therefore, the transfer from tertiary education to practice concerning IPECP in rehabilitation is the central theme of the project. Regional bonds between higher education institutions and rehabilitation centres will be strengthened in order to align IPECP. On the one hand we deliver a set of basic and advanced modules on functioning according to the WHO’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health and a set of (assessment) tools on interprofessional skills training. Also, applications of this theory in promising approaches, both in education and in rehabilitation practice, are regionally being piloted and adapted for use in other regions. Field visits by professionals from practice to exchange experiences is included in this work package. We aim to deliver a range of learning materials, from modules on theory to guidelines on how to set up and run a student-run interprofessional learning ward in a rehabilitation centre. All tested outputs will be published on the INPRO-website and made available to be implemented in the core curricula in tertiary education and for lifelong learning in health care practice. This will ultimately contribute to improve functioning and health outcomes and quality of life of patients in rehabilitation centres and beyond.
Het onderzoek Meaningful Music in Health Care (MiMiC) biedt kansen voor interprofessionele samenwerking van musici en verpleegkundigen. Daarnaast blijkt MiMiC ook tot een versterkt contact tussen patiënten en verpleegkundigen te leiden en tot een toename van compassie van verpleegkundigen. Wat houdt deze interprofessionaliteit precies in en hoe kan deze worden verder vorm krijgen?In Professional Excellence in Meaningful Music in Healthcare (ProMiMiC), beoogt een internationaal consortium van partners uit de muziekwereld en de gezondheidszorg de bestaande live muziek praktijk van MiMiC steviger te verankeren in ziekenhuiszorg. De partners bestaan uit instellingen voor muziekvakonderwijs en ziekenhuizen uit Groningen, Den Haag, Londen en Wenen.Samen hebben alle partners de expertise om praktijkgericht onderzoek naar professionalisering van deze muziekpraktijk uit te voeren. Daarmee kan een bijdrage geleverd worden aan ontwikkelingen als uitkomstgerichte zorg, positieve gezondheid, en een bredere maatschappelijke inzet van musici.Live muziek in het ziekenhuis? MiMiC - Meaningful Music in Health Care – is precies dat: een kleine groep musici die persoonsgerichte improvisaties voor patiënten en verpleegkundigen speelt. De musici maken op de patiëntenkamers muziek ‘op maat’, in interactie met de patiënten, op basis van hun voorkeuren, herinneringen, etc. Dit levert waardevolle momenten van esthetische ervaring en zingeving op, voor zowel patiënten als verpleegkundigen en musici.Sinds 2015 heeft het lectoraat Lifelong Learning in Music van de Hanzehogeschool Groningen samen met het UMCG de MiMiC-praktijk ontwikkeld en onderzocht voor patiënten van chirurgische afdelingen. Persoonsgericht musiceren blijkt goed te realiseren in een medische setting en voor alle betrokkenen zeer betekenisvol te zijn. Patiënten ervaren minder pijn en voelen zich beter. Daarnaast biedt deze innovatieve praktijk musici en verpleegkundigen nieuwe mogelijkheden om zich professioneel verder te ontwikkelen. Daartoe willen we ProMiMiC uitvoeren.ProMiMiC speelt in op de behoefte van musici en verpleegkundigen om beter samen te werken en daarin van elkaar te leren, alsook om persoonsgerichte live muziek te kunnen gebruiken als katalysator voor een compassievolle patiëntrelatie. Met de verdere professionalisering van musici en verpleegkundigen is de MiMiC praktijk geschikt voor brede toepassing in de ziekenhuiszorg. Daarmee kan een bijdrage geleverd worden aan ontwikkelingen als Uitkomstgerichte Zorg, positieve gezondheid, en bredere maatschappelijke inzet van musici.In het consortium zijn uit drie landen hooggekwalificeerde kennisinstellingen op het gebied van muziek en van zorg gebundeld. Samen hebben zij de expertise om in een rijke context toegepast onderzoek naar professionalisering in MiMiC uit te voeren. Dit leidt tot een verbeterde uitvoering van de MiMiC praktijk en hierop aansluitende scholing van studenten en professionals in muziek en zorg. Dit zal musici en verpleegkundigen in staat stellen excellente professionals te zijn m.b.v. gepersonaliseerde live muziek in de zorg.
Following the Samen met Muziek pilot research project in 2023-2024 in ZINN Zorg Short Stay rehabilitation departments in the locations De Brink and De Dilgt, REVA BEATS is a co-research project between the research group Music in Context and ZINN Zorg Short Stay departments revalidation of the location De Brink. In this mixed methods research, multiple research foci included: 1) aspects of care innovation and impact measurements will be researched by ZINN Zorg, and 2) aspects of musical expression, communication and wellbeing of musicians and participants, the entrepreneurial skills and development of musicians, and the learning and experiencing of collaborating care professionals will be explored by research group Music in Context. Additionally, there is a PhD-fellow from the HKU researching the practice through the lens of care ethics. The REVA BEATS project will run between February 2025-January 2027, and includes in total 12 music projects, while the preparational work of the projects has started in June 2024.
