Midwife–Physician Collaboration: A Conceptual Framework for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice

• DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.12204
• Publication Date: 2014-10-08T14:37:13Z
• Authors: Denise Colter Smith
• Keywords: Patient Care Team; Nurse Midwives; Physician-Nurse Relations; Prenatal Care; Midwifery; 3. Good health; Obstetrics; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Pregnancy; Physicians; Humans; Female; Cooperative Behavior

IntroductionSince the passage of the Affordable Care Act, collaborative practice has been cited as one method of increasing access to care, decreasing costs, and improving efficiency. How and under what conditions might these goals be achieved? Midwives and physicians have built effective collaborative practice models over a period of 30 years. Empirical study of interprofessional collaboration between midwives and physicians could be useful in guiding professional education, regulation, and health policy in women's health and maternity care.MethodsConstruction of a conceptual framework for interprofessional collaboration between midwives and physicians was guided by a review of the literature. A theory derivation strategy was used to define dimensions, concepts, and statements of the framework.ResultsMidwife–physician interprofessional collaboration can be defined by 4 dimensions (organizational, procedural, relational, and contextual) and 12 concepts (trust, shared power, synergy, commitment, and respect, among others). The constructed framework provides the foundation for further empirical study of the interprofessional collaborative process.DiscussionThe experiences of midwife–physician collaborations provide solid support for a conceptual framework of the collaborative process. A conceptual framework provides a point from which further research can increase knowledge and understanding about how successful outcomes are achieved in collaborative health care practices. Construction of a measurement scale and validation of the model are important next steps.