Interprofessional communication between general dental practitioners and general medical practitioners: a qualitative study

Guangzhao Guan; Amanda Lim; HuiYee Sim; YeYan Khor; Li Mei

doi:10.1071/HC24071

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

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Interprofessional communication between general dental practitioners and general medical practitioners: a qualitative study

Guangzhao Guan

¹ ^* , Amanda Lim ¹ , HuiYee Sim ¹ , YeYan Khor ¹ , Li Mei ²

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

¹ Department of Oral Diagnostic and Surgical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, 310 Great King Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand.

² Department of Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, 310 Great King Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand. Email: li.mei@otago.ac.nz.

^* Correspondence to: simon.guan@otago.ac.nz

Handling Editor: Tim Stokes

Journal of Primary Health Care https://doi.org/10.1071/HC24071

Submitted: 31 May 2024 Accepted: 8 August 2024 Published: 18 September 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Introduction

Interprofessional communication between health care professionals is crucial to deliver quality health outcomes and enhance patients’ quality of life.

Aim

This study aimed to investigate the perspectives and contents of the interprofessional communication between general dental practitioners (GDPs) and general medical practitioners (GPs), and to explore the barriers and strategies that could bridge the gap between these health care professionals from their perspectives.

Methods

A qualitative study approach was undertaken, with semi-structured interviews conducted with GDPs and GPs from Dunedin and Auckland, New Zealand. Transcripts were analysed using a thematic approach to identify patterns and main themes.

Results

Three major themes emerged from the interviews with GDPs (n = 10) and GPs (n = 6): (1) experiences of communication, (2) the content of communication and (3) barriers and suggestions to improve communication. Most GDP and GP participants reported that there was a lack of communication between these two specialties. Complex medical conditions and polypharmacy were the topics perceived as essential for interprofessional communication between GDPs and GPs. The barriers of communication included time constraints, insufficient knowledge of the dental field among most GPs, inadequate understanding of referral among GDPs, and the absence of a common means of communication.

Discussion

Both GDPs and GPs reported a lack of efficient interprofessional communication. They suggested implementing interprofessional education, integrating health record systems, scheduling regular face-to-face meetings, and developing effective referral guidelines.

Keywords: collaborative practice, curriculum, general dental practitioner, general medical practitioner, health care system, interprofessional communication, interprofessional education, training.

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