Global leadership in IPECP research; an intro to co-creation of best practice guidelines

The importance of integrating interprofessional collaboration in both healthcare education and delivery is well documented. Interprofessional education and collaborative practice (IPECP) has been identified as a potential route to achieve the ‘quadruple aim’ through enhancing collaboration and teamwork among professionals, patients and families. Over the last decade, the number of articles addressing IPECP within the literature has grown significantly, as has the global IPECP representation. While the quality of IPECP evaluative research studies has improved over the years, there is still much to be achieved. According to the InterprofessionalResearch.Global (IPR.Global) Discussion Paper, “the research agenda for IPECP should elevate the process of enquiry by shifting focus from that of program- or project-specific level interrogation to determining the impact of IPECP.” The rigorous design, assessment and evaluation of IPECP initiatives are essential in advancing knowledge in the fields of IPECP. In addition, addressing relevant and clearly articulated research questions, that are underpinned by sound theoretical frameworks and models, employing appropriate and well-designed methodologies, and following sound and rigorous data collection and analysis approaches targeted to identifying the contribution of IPECP to achieving the quadruple aim, WHO's triple billion targets, Universal Health Coverage and reaching the Sustainable Development Goals are critical. To further this agenda, this paper presents some examples of applied IPECP theoretical frameworks and research methodologies and discusses their potential contributions to achieving identified global research priorities.