Exploring implicit influences on interprofessional collaboration: a scoping review

ABSTRACT

Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is fraught with multiple tensions. This is partly due to implicit biases within teams, which can reflect larger social, physical, organizational, and historical contexts. Such biases may influence communication, trust, and how collaboration is enacted within larger contexts. Despite the impact it has on teams, the influence of bias on IPC is relatively under-explored. Therefore, the authors conducted a scoping review on the influence of implicit biases within interprofessional teams. Using scoping review methodology, the authors searched several online databases. From 2792 articles, two reviewers independently conducted title/abstract screening, selecting 159 articles for full-text eligibility. From these, reviewers extracted, coded, and iteratively analyzed key data using a framework derived from socio-material theories. Authors found that many studies demonstrated how biases regarding dominance and expertise were internalized by team members, influencing collaboration in predominantly negative ways. Articles also described how team members dynamically adapted to such biases. Overall, there was a paucity of research that described material influences, often focusing on a single material element instead of the dynamic ways that humans and materials are known to interact and influence each other. In conclusion, implicit biases are relatively under-explored within IPC. The lack of research on material influences and the relationship among racial, age-related, and gender biases are critical gaps in the literature. Future research should consider the longitudinal and reciprocal nature of both positive and negative influences of bias on collaboration in diverse settings.

KEYWORDS:

• Bias
• collaboration
• equity
• power

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the support of colleagues including Elise Paradis and Pippa Hall.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Previous presentations

This work was presented at the Arnold P Gold Foundation Symposium in October, 2019.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to acknowledge the Arnold P. Gold Foundation for their grant support of this work through a Mapping the Landscape Grant

Notes on contributors

Javeed Sukhera

Javeed Sukherais an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Paediatrics, and Scientist at the Centre for Education Research and Innovation at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

Kaitlyn Bertram

Kaitlyn Bertram is a medical student, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

Shawn Hendrikx

Shawn Hendrikx is a collections and content strategies librarian, Western Libraries, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada

Margaret S. Chisolm

Margaret S.Chisolm is Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Juliette Perzhinsky

Juliette Perzhinsky is an Associate Professor of medicine at Central Michigan University College of Medicine in Mt Pleasant, Michigan. 

Erin Kennedy

Erin Kennedy is a PhD candidate in health professions education, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

Lorelei Lingard

Lorelei Lingard is Professor, Department of Medicine and Scientist, Centre for Education Research and Innovation at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.

Mark Goldszmidt

Mark Goldszmidt is Professor, Department of Medicine and Scientist, Centre for Education Research and Innovation at Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.