Characteristics of collaboration between nurse practitioners and medical practitioners in primary healthcare: a multiple case study using mixed methods

摘要

Collaborative work between nurse practitioners (NPs) and medical practitioners (MPs) in primary healthcare (PHC) settings is a novel approach to patient care in Australia. Hence, this multiple case study using mixed methods aimed to identify the conceptual and practical aspects of collaboration between NPs and MPs in Australian PHC settings. The rationale for conducting this study was to provide practitioners and policy-makers with information about the likely barriers and facilitators of collaborative practice models and current experiences of collaboration in PHC settings. This has not been examined before in Australia. Specifically, this study sought to answer three research questions: 1) What is the conceptual basis of collaboration as defined by NPs and MPs? 2) What are NPs’ and MPs’ experiences of collaborative practice? 3) What are the factors that enable the functioning of collaborative practice models?