The lived experience of interprofessional collaboration in the neonatal intensive care unit and its impact on workflow, safety and image quality: A phenomenological study

Journal: Radiography

Publisher: Elsevier

eISSN: 1078-8174

ISSN: 1078-8174

Abstract:

Introduction Portable imaging in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is challenging due to lack of standardized protocols resulting in repeated exposures and inconsistent image quality. This study aims to explore the lived experiences of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) with implementing a standardized portable imaging protocol (SPIP) in NICU and assess its perceived impact on workflow and safety and image quality.

Methods A purposive sampling was used to recruit participants, including radiographers, nurses, respiratory therapists, and radiologists. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Quantitative data was collected using evaluation of image quality to provide measurable trends.

Results The thematic analysis revealed five main themes: HCPs' role before SPIP, HCPs' role after SPIP, perceived impact of IPC on patient care, safety, and radiation protection, HCPs' perception, and sustainability of SPIP. Prior to the implementation, roles were unclear, communication was minimal, and workflow inefficiencies frequently led to suboptimal image quality and repeated exposures. Following the implementation, HCPs reported enhanced efficiency, clearer role definition, better communication, and improved radiation safety. By the third month, correct positioning rose from 13 % to 68 %, proper inspiration improved from 62 % to 97 %, and suboptimal images dropped from 87 % to 31 %.

Conclusion HCPs reported improvements in workflow efficiency, communication, and adherence to radiation safety, and image quality through role clarity and teamwork. Their experiences suggest that IPC may contribute to optimizing imaging outcomes in the NICU.

Implications for practice Structured feedback mechanisms are recommended to foster continuous learning, supported with ongoing training, audits, and protocol updates based aligned with best practices. Further research is needed to evaluate the protocol's effectiveness, scalability, and adaptability across diverse settings.

Source: Manual