Abstract
Background. Learning from one another and cross-sectoral collaboration is essential among multidisciplinary challenges, such as in (healthcare) approaches that connect the medical and social domain. To strengthen cross-sectoral learning and collaboration, learning communities (LCs) were implemented in 2021 across five municipalities in the Netherlands. Previous research gave insights into isolated variables that help or hinder creating successful LCs, but did not gain insights into their interrelatedness (dynamics). Moreover, as LCs develop over time, their dynamics are likely to change over time too. Therefore, more insights are needed into how LC dynamics develop over time, as this enables LC facilitators and members to optimize LCs. This study aimed to gain insight into how the system dynamics of the functioning of multidisciplinary LCs develop over time.
Approach. Members of two separate LCs – including policy makers, care professionals, practice professionals and patients/citizens – participated in qualitative interviews at two moments in time about their experiences, perceived learning and acting. Interviews were thematically analysed. Subsequently, two system maps/causal loop diagrams (after 0,5 year and 2,5 years after the LC start) were designed in seven steps to show developments over time.
Results. The causal loop diagram among the first half year illustrated three intertwined LC themes. These included enhancing group dynamics within LCs, facilitating multidisciplinary knowledge exchange within LCs, and establishing conditions to execute LC actions. The causal loop diagram after two and a half years became more extensive and consequently further explained these three themes.
Implications. To optimize LCs and (healthcare) approaches, it is highly recommended that stakeholders arrange the LC jointly, involve the appropriate partners, match with LC members’ needs, and motivate members to execute actions. LC facilitators are recommended to use the causal loop diagrams to identify their bottlenecks and how to intervene in those to optimize the LC.