Paired learning - improving collaboration between clinicians and managers

TY - JOUR

T1 - Paired learning - improving collaboration between clinicians and managers

AU - Houston, James

AU - Morgan, Jessica Elizabeth

N1 - © Emerald Publishing Limited 2018. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details.

PY - 2018/3/19

Y1 - 2018/3/19

N2 - PurposeClose collaboration between NHS clinicians and managers is essential in providing effective healthcare, but relationships between the two groups are often poor. Paired learning is a peer-peer buddying tool that can break down barriers, increase knowledge and change attitudes. Paired learning has been used with doctors and managers but not for multi-professional clinicians. The purpose of this paper is to assess whether a paired learning programme (PLP) can improve knowledge and attitudes between multi-professional NHS clinicians and managers.Design/methodology/approachA PLP pairing clinicians and managers over a four-month period to participate in four buddy meetings and three group meetings was delivered. A mixed methods study was completed which collected quantitative and qualitative data in the form of pre- and post-course questionnaires and focus group discussions.FindingsParticipants reported increased understanding, changed attitudes and better communication between clinicians and managers following the PLP. Self-rated knowledge increased across all domains but was only statistically significant for ability to engage, ability to establish shared goals and knowledge of decision-making processes.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper highlights the value of paired learning in encouraging collaboration between clinicians and managers but is of a small size. The PLP did not provide enough data to examine relationships and interaction between clinicians and managers, this should be considered in any future work.Originality/valueTo the authors’ knowledge, this is the only published paper showing data from a PLP involving multi-disciplinary health professionals.

AB - PurposeClose collaboration between NHS clinicians and managers is essential in providing effective healthcare, but relationships between the two groups are often poor. Paired learning is a peer-peer buddying tool that can break down barriers, increase knowledge and change attitudes. Paired learning has been used with doctors and managers but not for multi-professional clinicians. The purpose of this paper is to assess whether a paired learning programme (PLP) can improve knowledge and attitudes between multi-professional NHS clinicians and managers.Design/methodology/approachA PLP pairing clinicians and managers over a four-month period to participate in four buddy meetings and three group meetings was delivered. A mixed methods study was completed which collected quantitative and qualitative data in the form of pre- and post-course questionnaires and focus group discussions.FindingsParticipants reported increased understanding, changed attitudes and better communication between clinicians and managers following the PLP. Self-rated knowledge increased across all domains but was only statistically significant for ability to engage, ability to establish shared goals and knowledge of decision-making processes.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper highlights the value of paired learning in encouraging collaboration between clinicians and managers but is of a small size. The PLP did not provide enough data to examine relationships and interaction between clinicians and managers, this should be considered in any future work.Originality/valueTo the authors’ knowledge, this is the only published paper showing data from a PLP involving multi-disciplinary health professionals.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1108/JHOM-10-2017-0263

DO - 10.1108/JHOM-10-2017-0263

M3 - Article

C2 - 29508670

SN - 1477-7266

VL - 32

SP - 101

EP - 112

JO - Journal of Health Organization and Management

JF - Journal of Health Organization and Management

IS - 1

ER -