Mapping the evidence on Interprofessional Collaboration as an Interdisciplinary Approach to improve Patient Safety and sustainable healthcare: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) is an effective interdisciplinary strategy, but evidence on its implementation is fragmented. This scoping review maps the evidence on IPC models, outcomes, facilitators, barriers and research gaps within the framework of patient safety and sustainable healthcare. The review was performed using the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA guidelines. The literature was collected from the Scopus, ProQuest and ScienceDirect databases between 2021 and 2026. A descriptive/thematic synthesis approach was used to analyze twenty-five studies. The findings suggest that IPC can enhance communication and care coordination, shared decision-making, patient safety, continuity of care and efficiency of healthcare. Facilitators to IPC are effective communication, supportive leadership, collaborative organizational culture and interprofessional education. The barriers to IPC include professional hierarchies, fragmented communication, role ambiguity and limited organizational support . All in all, IPC is a promising interdisciplinary approach in improving patient safety, healthcare quality and service sustainability and thus contributes to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3). Future research should include longitudinal, implementation and economic evaluations to build the evidence on long-term effectiveness, sustainability and scalability of IPC, with a special focus on low- and middle-income countries.