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Nurse Practitioner and Physician Collaboration in Long-Term Care Homes: Survey Results*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2009

Faith Donald ,
E. Ann Mohide ,
Alba DiCenso ,
Kevin Brazil ,
Michael Stephenson  and
Noori Akhtar-Danesh
Faith Donald*
Affiliation:
Daphne CockwellSchool of Nursing, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON
E. Ann Mohide
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Alba DiCenso
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Kevin Brazil
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
Michael Stephenson
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON Wellington Nursing Home, Hamilton, ON
Noori Akhtar-Danesh
Affiliation:
School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON
*
*Request for offprints should be sent to: Faith Donald Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Ryerson University 350 Victoria Street Toronto, ON M5B 2K3 Telephone: (416) 979-5000 ext. 6309 Fax: (416) 979-5332 E-mail: fdonald@ryerson.ca
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Abstract

This survey assessed the extent of and satisfaction with collaboration between physicians and nurse practitioners (NPs) working in Ontario long-term care homes. Questionnaires, which included the Measure of Current Collaboration and Provider Satisfaction with Current Collaboration instruments, were mailed to NPs and physicians with whom the NP most frequently worked. The 14 matched-pairs of NPs and physicians reported similar levels of collaboration; however, physicians were significantly more satisfied with collaboration than were NPs (z = -2.67, p = 0.008). The majority of physicians (85%) and NPs (86%) indicated that collaboration was occurring, and 96 per cent of physicians and 79 per cent of NPs were satisfied with their collaboration. About one third of physicians reported that the NP had a negative effect on their income, but their satisfaction with collaboration did not differ from those who reported a positive effect. Overall, these physicians and NPs collaborate in delivering care and are satisfied with their collaboration.

Résumé

Dans cette étude transversale, on a mesuré l’étendue et la satisfaction de la collaboration entre les médecins et les infirmières praticiennes (IP) travaillant dans des maisons de soins de longue durée en Ontario. Des questionnaires, qui incluaient les instruments Mesure de Collaboration Courante et Satisfaction du Prestataire avec la Collaboration Courante, ont été envoyés par la poste aux IP et aux médecins avec qui les IP travaillent le plus fréquemment. La comparaison de 14 questionnaires appariés entre les IP et les médecins a démontré des niveaux de collaboration similaires. Cependant, les médecins étaient considérablement plus satisfaits avec la collaboration que les IP (z = -2.67, p = 0.008). La majorité des médecins (85%) et des IP (86%) ont indiqués que la collaboration se produisait et 96 pour cent des médecins et 79 pour cent des IP étaient satisfaits avec la collaboration. Environ un tiers des médecins ont indiqués que les IP ont eu un effet négatif sur leurs revenus mais leur satisfaction avec la collaboration n’a pas changée par rapport à ceux qui ont rapporté un effet positif. En général, ces médecins et ces IP collaborent dans la prestation des soins et sont satisfaits de leur collaboration.

Keywords

vieillissementcollaborationmaisons de soins infirmierséquipe soignante multidisciplinaireinfirmières praticiennesmédecinsagingcollaborationnursing homesmulti-disciplinary care teamnurse practitionersphysicians
Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement , Volume 28 , Issue 1 , March 2009 , pp. 77 - 87
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Association on Gerontology 2009

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Footnotes

*

The authors wish to thank Kwadwo Bosompra, Ph.D., for his assistance with the statistical components of this study and Célyne Laflamme for the French translation of the Abstract.

We gratefully acknowledge funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Nursing Secretariat.

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