A conceptual framework for assessing interorganizational integration and interprofessional collaboration

Abstract

The need for collaboration in health and social welfare is well documented internationally. It is related to the improvement of services for the users, particularly target groups with multiple problems. However, there is still insufficient knowledge of the complex area of collaboration, and the interprofessional literature highlights the need to develop adequate research approaches for exploring collaboration between organizations, professionals and service users. This paper proposes a conceptual framework based on interorganizational and interprofessional research, with focus on the concepts of integration and collaboration. Furthermore, the paper suggests how two measurement instruments can be combined and adapted to the welfare context in order to explore collaboration between organizations, professionals and service users, thereby contributing to knowledge development and policy improvement. Issues concerning reliability, validity and design alternatives, as well as the importance of management, clinical implications and service user involvement in future research, are discussed.

Keywords::

• Assessment framework
• health/social welfare
• interorganizational integration
• interprofessional collaboration

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Notes

¹The term “interorganizational integration” covers collaboration between organizations/systems, such as sectors, agencies/services, departments and units, whereas the term “interprofessional collaboration” refers to collaboration between professionals, such as interprofessional, rehabilitation, network and management teams. Interprofessional collaboration often includes service users, which if so is specified. “Joint work(ing)” is a collective term used for collaboration unless otherwise specified.