MULTIDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION BETWEEN INTERNISTS, PHARMACISTS, OPTOMETRISTS, BIOCHEMISTRY AND LABORATORY SPECIALISTS IN IMPROVING CLINICAL DECISION-MAKING
Keywords:
Multidisciplinary collaboration, clinical decision-making, interprofessional practice, patient safety, Saudi Arabia.Abstract
Background: Effective clinical decision-making requires integration of diverse expertise, yet many healthcare systems continue to operate within professional silos. Fragmented decision processes increase the risk of diagnostic errors, medication mishaps, and poor patient outcomes.
Objective: This study evaluated the impact of structured collaboration among internists, pharmacists, optometrists, biochemists, and laboratory specialists on the accuracy, safety, and efficiency of clinical decision-making in Saudi hospitals.
Methods: A prospective, multicenter, mixed-methods design was implemented across six healthcare institutions. Quantitative data were collected from 250 professionals using validated instruments assessing decision accuracy, collaboration behaviors, and medication error rates, supplemented by chart audits of patient cases. Qualitative insights were obtained through focus groups and semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 30 participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, structural equation modeling, and thematic analysis.
Results: Decision-making accuracy scores improved significantly across all professions after structured collaboration (mean increase +0.76, p < 0.001). Chart reviews showed diagnostic errors decreased by 50% and prescribing errors by 63%. Patient outcomes improved, with average hospital stay reduced by 1.7 days and 30-day readmissions nearly halved. Qualitative themes highlighted shared knowledge, conflict resolution, workflow integration, and patient-centered care as drivers of improvement.
Conclusion: Multidisciplinary collaboration between internists, pharmacists, optometrists, biochemists, and laboratory specialists enhances diagnostic precision, medication safety, and overall patient care. Formalizing such teamwork within hospital policy, training, and electronic health record systems offers a practical strategy to improve healthcare quality in complex clinical environments.
