Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41856578›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2026

Exploring motivations, barriers and solutions for interdisciplinary practice in work-focused healthcare: a qualitative study among Dutch healthcare professionals.

Nina Zipfel, Ersen Colkesen, Marije E Hagendijk, Marijke Melles, Sylvia J van der Burg-Vermeulen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Nina ZipfelDepartment of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands n.zipfel@amsterdamumc.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4125-6726
Ersen ColkesenDepartment of Cardiology, St Antonius Ziekenhuis, Nieuwegein, Netherlands.
Marije E HagendijkDepartment of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2311-9528
Marijke MellesDelft University of Technology Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering, Delft, ZH, Netherlands.
Sylvia J van der Burg-VermeulenDepartment of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam UMC Location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo explore the motivations, barriers and potential solutions from professionals' perspectives for achieving effective interdisciplinary practice, focusing on communication and collaboration to support work participation and facilitate patients' return-to-work (RTW).

designQualitative exploratory interview study using thematic analysis.

settingPrimary and work-focused healthcare.

participants22 healthcare professionals, including occupational physicians (n=5), social insurance physicians (n=5), general practitioners (n=7) and occupational physiotherapists (n=5), were purposively recruited. All participants had at least 1 year of experience and were actively involved in patient care.

interventionsNone. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Identified motivations, experienced barriers and proposed solutions for improving communication and collaboration across disciplines in work-focused healthcare.

resultsParticipating healthcare professionals emphasised the importance of early, proactive and person-centred communication across care domains, particularly in complex or stagnating RTW trajectories. Key barriers included a lack of shared knowledge and common goals, limited understanding of each other's roles, time constraints, fragmented systems and regulatory restrictions. Proposed solutions focused on clearer coordination of care, improved role clarity and development of a secure, cross-domain digital communication platform to streamline information exchange.

conclusionsEffective work-focused healthcare requires improved interprofessional communication and patient-centred collaboration. This study highlights when collaboration is most valuable, identifies key barriers and outlines feasible practical solutions. Future research should focus on developing and implementing guidelines that clarify communication pathways and coordination mechanisms within interdisciplinary teams.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelHealth PersonnelInterdisciplinary CommunicationMotivationPatient Care TeamAdultCommunicationCooperative BehaviorFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedNetherlandsPatient-Centered CareQualitative ResearchOccupational Health ServicesPatient-Centered CareQUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Identifiers

PMID41856578
PMCPMC13007094

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.