Working together for patient health: Assessing interprofessional competencies among healthcare professionals in Lebanon

Introduction

Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is the gold standard for safe, high-quality, and accessible patient-centered care. This study aims to assess IPC core competencies among Lebanese healthcare providers from different professions and explore the influence of several factors, including leadership, work ethics, and specialty, on healthcare IPC in Lebanon.

Methods

This cross-sectional online survey enrolled 245 healthcare workers in Lebanon between July and December 2021. The Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) Competency Self-Assessment Tool Version 3 was used to assess IPC. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to compare the total competency scale and subscales between the leadership group, work ethic, specialty, and education level, taking into account potential confounding variables, namely, age and gender.

Results

The mean competency total scale was 4.22 ± 0.68. The bivariate analysis showed a significantly higher mean competency among participants who have a full-time job, higher administrative leadership (4.30 vs. 3.08, p = 0.001), interpersonal leadership (4.29 vs. 2.94, p = 0.006), conceptual leadership (4.28 vs. 3.15, p = 0.010) and higher work ethics (4.51 vs. 4.12, p < 0.001). Older age (r = 0.15, p = 0.017) was also significantly associated with higher competency. The multivariate analysis showed that having only high work ethics, as compared to low, remains significantly associated with higher total interprofessional competency, including the Interaction and Interprofessional Values subscales. No differences in IPEC scales between pharmacists and other healthcare providers were noted.

Conclusion

The IPEC total competency score was higher among full-time healthcare providers and those who scored higher on leadership skills and work ethics. The study outcome shows the importance of education in interprofessional practice.