oa A Qualitative Exploration Of Facilitators And Barriers To Interprofessional Practice In Healthcare In Qatar

Background: Healthcare in Qatar is undergoing a period of major reform, driven by a strong economy and vision for a world-class healthcare system. One area identified as a potential contributor to developing a world-class healthcare system is interprofessional education (IPE), with the goal of facilitating collaborative practice among healthcare workers. Several key steps have been taken towards developing IPE in Qatar, such as the formation of the Qatar Interprofessional Health Council (QIHC), the development of an IPE program for undergraduate healthcare students, the development of a set of shared core competencies, the receipt of substantial buy-in from leaders across the healthcare system, and recent approval of funding to develop a post-licensure healthcare IPE program. In order to improve IPE in Qatar, it is important to better understand the facilitators and barriers to interprofessional collaboration in Qatar. This study seeks to do so by qualitatively exploring facilitators and barriers to interprofessional collaboration in Qatar from the perspective of healthcare professionals. This research can assist in improving healthcare in Qatar by increasing understanding about how healthcare workers give meaning to interprofessional education and collaboration. Objectives: The purpose of this paper-presentation is to report on finding from a qualitative study that explored different facilitators and barriers of interprofessional practice in Qatar. Method: 10 healthcare professionals who work in Qatar were interviewed using semi-structured, open-ended interviews organized by the theoretical approach of phenomenology. The interviews focused on exploring barriers, facilitators, and what is working well in terms of interprofessional practice for healthcare professionals in Qatar. Findings and Implications: Different factors associated with interprofessional collaborations will be discussed. In doing so, this research adds to the literature on IPE by shedding light on interprofessional collaboration and education in the Middle East. Furthermore, this study identifies barriers for healthcare workers to work collaboratively in healthcare settings in Qatar. Addressing such barriers, and building on what is working well, will facilitate Qatar in reaching one of the Qatar National Vision 2030 goals of improving Qatar's health and wellness.