• Naomi Aerts, Peter Van Bogaert, Hilde Bastiaens, and Lieve Peremans.
• Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care, Gouverneur Kinsbergen Centre, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
• J Clin Nurs. 2020 Jan 1; 29 (1-2): 251-264.

Aims And ObjectivesTo explore the views of general practitioners, practice nurses and patients on interprofessional collaboration in general practice and to understand to what extent the nurse-doctor relationship meets their needs and expectations.BackgroundTo address future challenges of primary health care, there is a need for integrated interprofessional collaboration care systems with a patient-centred focus. Worldwide, there is an integration of nurses in general practice. However, in a transitioning Belgian context little is known about the perspectives of three key stakeholder groups.DesignThe results of four qualitative descriptive primary studies were triangulated and a secondary analysis resulted in a thematic synthesis within a pragmatic research paradigm.MethodsPrimary data were collected through individual, semi-structured interviews with 7 general practitioners, 19 practice nurses and 21 patients living with chronic illness in 26 primary care centres with different nurse integration levels. We conducted a secondary analysis for the thematic synthesis of the different stakeholders' perspectives. This study was reported in accordance with the COREQ checklist.ResultsFour overarching themes were found as follows: vision and mission at general practice level, patient-centred care, practice nurse role development and interprofessional collaboration. Interprofessional collaboration within general practice ensures better response to patient needs. Evolution of the practice nurse role to autonomous decision-making can be facilitated by clear vision and mission, team communication, complementarity of responsibilities and trust-based professional relationships.ConclusionsThe key for patient-centred care in a well-organised practice is a clear vision and mission and well-defined task description for interprofessional collaboration. General practice is urging for systematic guidance for the sustainable integration of a practice nurse.Relevance To Clinical PracticeOur study highlights opportunities and challenges to nurse integration in general practice from key stakeholders' perspectives, which can inform other transitioning contexts.© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

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