Validation of the Collaborative Practice Assessment Tool (CPAT) and Assessment of Interprofessional Team Collaboration Scale (AITCS-II) to assess interprofessional collaboration in the ICU setting in a small EU island state

Abstract

Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) occurs when multiple healthcare professionals from diverse disciplines and specialities work together with patients or clients, their families, carers, as well as communities to provide the highest standard of care. The study aimed to psychometrically evaluate the construct validity of the CPAT and AITCS-II instruments in measuring the degree of IPC in the Maltese intensive care setting in the university, teaching, general hospital. It also aimed to explore healthcare professionals’ perceptions of the degree of IPC within this setting. A retrospective, cross-sectional, analytical, mixed methods research design was utilised. A sample of 110 eligible healthcare professionals working in the intensive care unit participated in the study, achieving a response rate of 65.1%. Descriptive and inferential statistics, namely internal consistency, correlational analysis, and factorial analysis were performed on the quantitative data. Content analysis was performed on the qualitative data obtained from the CPAT’s three open-ended questions. The results of the present study indicate that overall, both tools provide a good measure of collaborative practice and supports their utilisation for psychometrically validated measurement of collaboration in the Maltese intensive care setting. However, the AITCS-II possibly may be more feasible to investigate IPC in the Maltese intensive care setting. The AITCS-II 23-item scale would make the sample size requirements for the factorial analysis achievable; it is more concise; the overall reliability and construct validity results obtained were satisfactory and correlated well with the CPAT. The participants identified communication, and psychological safety as the main areas for improvement in the IPC. Nonetheless, it is important to acknowledge and consider the limitations of this study when interpreting these findings. Recommendations for health systems management, education, and future research were proposed, including implementing strategies for regular auditing of IPC utilising the AITCS-II and introduction of interventions and interprofessional training to improve collaborative practice.