Interprofessional Collaboration in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU): An Action-Research Training Project

Background and Rationale Interprofessional collaboration is critical for patient safety and organizational efficiency in high-complexity environments like the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU). Despite its importance, there is a lack of structured, transferable training models for daily clinical practice. Poor cooperation is linked to preventable adverse events and caregiver burnout. This study, promoted by the Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Parma, addresses this gap using an "action-research" approach integrated with digital tools for situated learning. Study Design and Intervention This is a longitudinal, prospective study. The intervention consists of a specialized training program using interactive branching scenarios created with H5P software and hosted on a Moodle-based platform. These simulations replicate complex clinical situations across four key CICU pathways: Hemodynamics. Electrophysiology. Heart Failure. TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) preparation. The program requires learners to make clinical and collaborative decisions, receiving immediate feedback to improve teamwork, role clarity, and communication. Data Collection and Analysis The study evaluates outcomes at three specific intervals: T0: Baseline (pre-intervention). T1: Post-intervention (immediately following training). T2: Follow-up at six months to evaluate sustainability Assessment tools include the Jefferson Scale of Attitudes Toward Physician-Nurse Collaborative Relationship (JSAPNC) , the Nurse-Physician Collaboration Scale (NPCS) , and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) for self-efficacy. Statistical evaluation will utilize Linear Mixed Models (LMM) to analyze longitudinal changes and individual trajectories.Ethics and Data Management The study follows a pseudo-anonymized data protocol, with access restricted to the research team. Participants provide written informed consent prior to enrollment. The project duration is estimated at 24 months. The study is projected to commence on February 15, 2026.