‘The GP’s offices are far away and the gain would be great.’—A qualitative study on nursing home staff’s perspectives on digital solutions for communication issues with general practitioners

BACKGROUND: An aging society and a growing shortage of healthcare professionals pose increasing challenges for nursing homes in Germany. Enhanced collaboration between nursing home staff and General Practitioners is essential to ensure quality care. Understanding nurses' perspectives is crucial to identifying current issues and suitable solutions. AIM: To explore nursing home staff's perspectives on communication and current channels with General Practitioners and evaluate specifically their attitudes towards digital communication options. METHODS: This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 13 nursing home employees from seven German nursing homes, conducted between January 2020 and April 2022. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Reporting adhered to COREQ guidelines. We used paradox theory from management studies to interpret communication tensions and solution strategies. RESULTS: We identified three key themes: (1) Interprofessional communication problems between nurses and general practitioners, including limited direct contact, technical barriers, and time-related inefficiencies; (2) Perceived ability of digital options to reduce communication problems; and (3) Suggestions to improve communication, with a focus on digital options. Participants expressed a strong openness to digital communication tools, highlighting their potential to alleviate current tensions. Digital tools were viewed as opportunities to streamline communication, enhance efficiency, and ultimately improve collaboration and patient care. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides insights into tensions in healthcare collaboration in nursing homes and possible solution strategies. Participants see digital tools as promising pathways to resolve current inefficiencies and support better interprofessional collaboration. These insights are essential for guiding the development of practical, sustainable solutions to improve care delivery in nursing homes.