A mixed methods systematic review of interprofessional education and collaborative practice in rural healthcare settings

Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice (IPECP) involves healthcare workers and/or students from at least two professions working alongside patients, to improve the quality of healthcare provided. IPECP implementation in rural areas, however, lags due to limited resources and workforce shortages. This systematic review was undertaken to identify the enablers and barriers to the implementation of IPECP initiatives in rural healthcare settings. The JBI mixed methods review methodology and PRISMA guidelines were followed. Studies included peer-reviewed articles of IPECP initiatives implemented in rural healthcare settings identified in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science, alongside gray literature searches. Following screening, data were extracted and critically appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Forty-eight papers were included in the final review. Enablers of IPECP in rural settings were student factors, supervisor and clinician factors, and strength of the community. Barriers included funding, resources and time constraints, lack of trained IPECP facilitators, and low prioritization of IPECP initiatives. The identified enablers and barriers of IPECP implementation in rural settings can inform further policy and practice developments. Future researchers could investigate strategies to aid IPECP implementation and use of longitudinal designs to assess their long-term impact.