Relationship Between Perspective-Taking, Boundary-Crossing Experiences, and Collaborative Practice in Discharge Planning Among Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study.

AIM: Effective discharge planning requires ward nurses to understand the circumstances of receiving facilities. Perspective-taking-the active cognitive process of imagining another party's situation-may play a central role in promoting interfacility collaboration. This study examined a theoretical process model that positions perspective-taking, nurses' boundary-crossing experiences, and their collaborative practice in discharge planning.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with acute care nurses in Japan in 2021. Perspective-taking and collaborative practice in discharge planning were measured using validated scales. Boundary-crossing experiences, encompassing other-facility experience and interaction opportunities with external professionals, were assessed using newly developed measures. Structural equation modeling was employed to evaluate the fit of the proposed theoretical model.

RESULTS

Data from 416 respondents were analyzed. Perspective-taking was significantly associated with collaborative practice in discharge planning (p < 0.05). Both other-facility experience and interaction opportunities were significantly associated with perspective-taking (p < 0.05). The theoretical process model met the criteria for good fit (comparative fit index = 0.93; root mean square error of approximation = 0.07; standardized root mean square residual = 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that ward nurses' boundary-crossing experiences are positively associated with perspective-taking, and perspective-taking supports collaborative practice in discharge planning. Providing nurses with diverse facility experiences and external interactions could promote interfacility collaboration.