Sustainable IPL: interprofessional learning in hospitals

According to the PLOS ONE scoping review by Åhlund et al. (published August 7, 2026) PLOS ONE, sustainable interprofessional learning (IPL) in hospitals depends on organizational structures that enable regular interaction and inclusive team climates. The review screened 1, 973 records and included 11 studies, giving a focused evidence base for workplace IPL.

• The review screened 1, 973 titles and abstracts after de-duplication in July 2026 and included 11 empirical studies for analysis.
• In August 7, 2026, Åhlund et al. reported that 10 of the 11 included studies (91%) used qualitative interviews and 5 studies (46%) used field observations, showing workplace IPL evidence is largely qualitative.
• Study sample sizes in the included articles ranged from 18 to 333 participants, providing both small qualitative studies and larger mixed-methods insights.
• The authors concluded, “Sustainable IPL requires organizational structures that enable regular interaction among professionals, ” a direct recommendation for leadership action.

Answer: Åhlund et al. performed a scoping review to map facilitators and barriers to IPL between nurses and physiotherapists in adult hospital settings, using a structured Arksey and O’Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR reporting.

According to the PLOS ONE article by Åhlund, Johnsson, and Rönnerhag (published August 7, 2026), the authors searched PubMed, CINAHL, and Scopus from inception through July 2026, with the search updated in July 2026 and no additional studies found at that time.

The review process identified 2, 206 records in initial searches and, after removing duplicates, screened 1, 973 titles and abstracts, which led to 33 full-texts reviewed and 11 articles included in the final synthesis, as reported in the PLOS ONE methods section.

The included studies were published between 2009 and 2022 and were geographically distributed across Australia, Sweden, Norway, Canada, and Israel, indicating cross-national interest though limited volume.

Answer: The PLOS ONE scoping review identified three facilitator themes and three barrier themes that directly shape IPL between nurses and physiotherapists in hospital clinical practice.

According to Åhlund et al. (PLOS ONE, August 7, 2026), the three facilitator themes were: supporting socialization and familiarization (reported in 6 studies), building a positive team climate (reported in 5 studies), and conducive organizational structures (reported in 10 studies).

According to Åhlund et al. (PLOS ONE, August 7, 2026), the three barrier themes were: limiting structural learning prerequisites (reported in 5 studies), constraining interprofessional interactions (reported in 4 studies), and a non-conducive prevailing workplace culture (reported in 5 studies).

Practical takeaway: measure both structural variables (meeting frequency, co-location) and relational variables (reported trust, perceived inclusion) when designing qualitative IPL studies.

Answer: To sustain interprofessional learning in hospitals, act on organizational structures, create shared spaces for interaction, and measure relational outcomes using qualitative methods.

The PLOS ONE scoping review by Åhlund et al. (published August 7, 2026) makes a clear, actionable case: “Sustainable IPL requires organizational structures that enable regular interaction among professionals.”

Next steps for researchers and educators: design mixed qualitative protocols that capture socialization, climate, and structural factors, then use AI-enabled tools to accelerate synthesis and comparison.

If you want to pilot an AI-enabled qualitative workflow for IPL research, Try Evidano for free.