A J curve of interprofessional change: co-locating non-health partners in an oncology unit.

BACKGROUND

Internationally, clinicians face increased demand, pressure on resources and unmet patient needs. A community social support service was co-located within cancer clinics in Glasgow, Scotland to help address some of these needs.

AIM: To analyse the impact of the service on clinical staff and to propose an explanatory theory of change.

METHOD: Qualitative exploratory design, using thematic analysis of semistructured interviews with 8 nurse specialists and 2 medical oncologists from lung, breast, head and neck, and gastrointestinal oncology teams in Glasgow in 2018-2019.

FINDINGS: Four themes captured this process: 'The conversation', 'A better experience', 'Freedom to focus' and 'Working hand in hand'.

CONCLUSION

Together, these four themes explained the process of effective interprofessional working. This process would have been predicted by the J-curve literature on diffusion of innovations. Linking J-curve theory to this successful process provides new understanding that could prove essential for clinical teams who are implementing change within their practice.