title: Does interprofessional collaboration between care levels improve following the creation of an integrated delivery organisation? The Bidasoa case in the Basque Country.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This article explores the impact of the creation of a new integrated delivery organisation on the evolution of interprofessional collaboration between primary and secondary care levels. In particular, the case of the Bidasoa Integrated Healthcare Organisation is analysed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The evolution of interprofessional collaboration is measured through a validated Spanish questionnaire, with 10 items and a 5-point Likert scale, based on the D'Amour's model of collaboration [20]. The final sample included 146 observations (doctors and nurses).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The questionnaire identified a significant improvement on the mean scores for interprofessional collaboration of 0.57 points before and after the intervention. A significant improvement was also found in the two dimensions of the measure of interprofessional collaboration used, with the size of the change being higher for the dimension related to the organisational setting (0.63) than for interpersonal relationships (0.47).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Before and after the creation of the Bidasoa Integrated Healthcare Organisation, an improvement in the perceived degree of interprofessional collaboration between primary and secondary care levels was observed. This finding supports the benefit of a multilevel and multidimensional approach to integration, as in the described Bidasoa case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results on the two dimensions of the measure of interprofessional collaboration used seem to point to the longer time required for interpersonal relationships to change compared to the organisational setting.
authors.affiliation: O+Berri, Basque Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Sondika, Spain.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nuño-Solinís
authors.forename: Iñaki Berraondo
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Zabalegui
authors.forename: Leticia San Martín
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Regina Sauto
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Arce
authors.forename: Marie-Pierre
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Gagnon
keywords: collaboration; delivery of health care; health services research; integration; interprofessional relations; questionnaires