Can relational coordination theory be used to understand and improve interprofessional care coordination in schools? A pilot study

Attending to the health needs of students with chronic conditions requires a fluid exchange of information and coordination between parents, educators, administrators, and school healthcare professionals. Previous research often omits school nurses in this exchange, although their role is key to successful outcomes. Relational Coordination (RC) theory posits that cohesive relationships help support communication, enabling stakeholders to coordinate their work. This article preliminarily explores whether RC domains might be relevant in school health settings, utilizing existing qualitative data. Responses from focus group sessions were analyzed using a deductive and inductive analytic approach. Data were coded using the 7 RC domains as a priori codes. Frequent, timely, and accurate communication emerged as major themes in the communication domain. Shared knowledge was a major theme within the relationship domain. Problem-solving communication, shared goals, and mutual respect were minor themes. The results suggest that improving interprofessional collaboration (IPC) and health outcomes in children with chronic conditions using RC theory-informed interventions will be important to deepen the understanding of how these different domains interact and influence student health outcomes.