Patient roles within interprofessional teams: A scoping review

Background

There is a lack of understanding of the ways in which patients can participate in their interprofessional teams (IPTs). Healthcare providers (HCPs) require further clarity on how patients can participate in such teams.

Purpose

This scoping review addressed the following question: “What is known about patient participation in IPTs and the roles patients can enact in these teams from HCPs' and patients’ perspectives?”

Method

(Arksey and O’Malley, 2005)1 scoping review method was used. Electronic databases, reference lists and government and health organization documents were accessed, yielding 59 resources between 1991 and 2021 for the review.

Discussion

An evolutionary overview of patient participation in teams was provided. While literature on patient roles is available, it lacks description on the processes and conditions required for the successful integration of patients in IPTs.

Conclusion

If patients are to become care participants and members of their IPTs, the need for a theoretical understanding of what could comprise patient roles is needed. This scoping review informed a Constructivist Grounded Theory study published elsewhere (Metersky et al., 2021).