Mixed-Methods Data Collection in a Study on Interprofessional Care: Interviews, a Survey, and the Delphi Technique

In the field of health services, the topic of interprofessional care is receiving growing attention. It requires the collaboration of different specialized health professionals to treat therapeutic paths for complex diseases in a comprehensive and personalized way. However, an interprofessional approach implies the reorganization of health services, usually based on traditional approaches to treatment, and the reconciliation of professional differences, often characterized by mono-disciplinary practices and conflicting visions. Starting from this premise, the methodological case presents the procedure and the results of research on interprofessional knowledge and attitudes of students, health professionals, doctors, and practitioners in the Italian health care context. The collection and the analysis of information was conducted within an iterative mixed-methods approach, which included explorative in-depth interviews with privileged witnesses, a survey, and a Delphi technique on different panels of health care experts.