The role of boundary spanners in The implemenTaTion of inTerdisciplinary collaboraTion in medicine

Abstract

The main objective of this paper is to understand how medical professionals, belonging to different cultures, are able to establish multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches. Studying inter-professional and cross-organizational collaboration raises the question of what skills have to be developed to promote collaborative practices across organizations and medical disciplines. In this study, we mobilize a boundary spanner theory perspective, with a focus on the roles of actors in this process. The methodological approach is based on four case studies. Our data analysis allows us to characterize actors who initiate an oncogeriatric project, who provide coordination and support and who promote knowledge sharing through boundary objects as “boundary spanners”. It enriches extant knowledge about interdisciplinary cooperation in medicine and the implementation of innovative practices. From a theoretical perspective, our results indicate that practitioners can support the implementation of collaborative practices by promoting cognitive openness, by meeting the expectations of the professional system to encourage participation, and by adopting a sufficiently neutral position to allow the adherence of stakeholders. The results thus reveals an important avenue for future research regarding coordination of care, namely the difficulties of inter-professional collaboration in the absence of clinical governance and formalized organization.