Building and maintaining interprofessional collaborative practice in eyecare: Learnings from the Queensland Paediatric Optometry Alignment Program.

PURPOSE

The Queensland Children's Hospital Paediatric Optometry Alignment Program commenced with a pilot phase to assess its feasibility, effectiveness and acceptability. This study identified the barriers that hinder effective interprofessional collaboration and the facilitators that contribute to its success, and assessed changes in optometrists' satisfaction since the pilot phase of the collaborative care programme.

METHODS

Qualitative deductive and inductive content analysis was applied to open-ended free-text survey responses collected in 2018 from the optometrists involved in the Program's pilot phase. The responses were coded using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) to categorise barriers and facilitators into key themes. Key behavioural determinants were mapped to the COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation-Behaviour) elements of the Behaviour Change Wheel model to identify intervention strategies. Intervention recommendations were derived from behaviour change mapping and compared with programme quality improvement initiatives. A cross-sectional explanatory survey informed by the TDF was conducted within the current 2023 cohort, and a longitudinal comparative analysis was carried out using data from the 2018 survey.

RESULTS

Among the 97 surveys distributed in 2018, 44 respondents participated; from this group, 38 individuals contributed a total of 200 free-text responses. Facilitators (240 comments) outnumbered barriers (65 comments). Key facilitators were accessible and timely care, professional development, confidence and positive outcome beliefs. Barriers included communication, information handover, credibility, relationships and skill gaps. Optometrists actively engaged in the programme in 2023 reported heightened satisfaction with their involvement, increased confidence and greater engagement in paediatric eyecare delivery. However, challenges in clinical information transfer persist.

CONCLUSION

The interprofessional collaborative model of paediatric eyecare has contributed efficiencies within the health system by building paediatric care capacity in the community, fostering professional credibility and promoting interdisciplinary trust. Insights gained should prove valuable for other paediatric eyecare services exploring hospital-to-community care models.