Physicians' attitudes about interprofessional treatment of chronic pain: family physicians are considered the most important collaborators.
OBJECTIVE
Interprofessional collaboration is the process in which different professional groups work together to positively impact health care. We aimed to explore physicians' attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration in the context of chronic pain management with the implication that if attitudes are not positive, appropriate interventions could be developed.


METHODS
A quantitative attitudes study.


METHODS
The ethical committee approved the study.


METHODS
A web-based survey about interprofessional treatment of chronic pain was administered to physicians. Outcome measures were as follows: physicians' demographic and workplace information, previous experience of working within an interprofessional team, and attitudes towards interprofessional collaboration in chronic pain management.


RESULTS
There were 90 physicians who responded to the survey. Physicians had positive attitudes towards team work in the context of chronic pain, but they were undecided about sharing their role within an interprofessional team. The family physician was singled out as the most important as well as the most common collaborator in chronic pain treatment. Interprofessional educational seminars and workshops were suggested as methods for improving interprofessional collaboration.


CONCLUSIONS
Interprofessional collaboration may be enhanced with continuing medical education that will bring together different healthcare professionals, enable them to exchange experiences and learn about their potential roles within a team.
Pliva Hrvatska d.o.o., Zagreb, Croatia.
Ivana
I
Klinar
Lejla
L
Ferhatovic
Adriana
A
Banozic
Marija
M
Raguz
Sandra
S
Kostic
Damir
D
Sapunar
Livia
L
Puljak
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*; D000078329:Workforce