Treatment guidelines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) highlight the importance of interprofessional collaboration and a smooth transition between levels of care. The aim of this study was to explore how nurses and physiotherapists experience interprofessional collaboration and the care delivery pathway for people with COPD.

Semistructured interviews were conducted by telephone with nurses and physiotherapists (n=11) from specialty care, primary care and long-term care in Sweden. The The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

The analysis resulted in three categories: ?Absence of organizational support?, ?Collaboration to boost competence?, and ?Patients left to cope by themselves?. Interprofessional collaboration and the transition in the care delivery pathway were perceived inhibited by insufficient time and continuity. Dialogue between healthcare professionals was considered important for increased familiarization with other professional roles and to enhance mutual support. Insufficient competence and low priority in healthcare put a big responsibility for contacts about follow-ups on the silent patient group.

It is important to improve interprofessional collaboration and transitions in the care delivery pathway. To achieve this, it is neccessary to develop and clarify routines, increase COPD-related competence among healthcare professionals, and to provide conditions for dialogue between healthcare professionals.