OBJECTIVE: To explore if and how far in current outpatient care for 3 health-care professions it is an objective to collaborate with each other supporting patients with DM2 in changing their eating and physical activity habits.
METHODS: We conducted 18 qualitative problem centered interviews with selected family physicians, nurses, dieticians working in outpatient setting and patients with DM2, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed with qualitative content analysis.
RESULTS: Issues identified ranged from description and reflection of current health-care practice, strategies, and hindrances to cope with changes of eating and physical activity behaviors as well as for health-care practice regarding interprofessional collaboration and patient-centered care up to considerations about collaboration and patient centricity (for health professionals and patients to achieve goals) and changes and ideas of \"ideal care practice\".
CONCLUSIONS: The included professional groups work predominantly for themselves. Collaboration currently only takes place when individually triggered and neither structured nor organized.