DefinePK

Abstract

Inter-professional Collaboration (IPC) is needed in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to enhance patient outcomes, decrease hospital stays, and enhance quality of care. This qualitative exploratory study examined the views of nine nurses and nine doctors in a tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, about IPC, as well as its facilitators and constrains. With purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews conducted in English and Urdu, thematic analysis identified three key themes: healthcare professionals' positive attitude towards IPC and its effects on patient outcomes; important facilitators like effective communication, respect for one another, trust, and professional expertise; and major barriers like lack of organizational support, power imbalance, increased workload, and system issues. Attendees highlighted IPC's critical contribution to enhancing care and urged its more robust integration into education, practice, and policy to promote a collaborative healthcare culture.