The evolution of shared learning: some political and professional imperatives

The legislative and professional forces that have had an impact on shared learning are reviewed. Table I highlights the period and dichotomy between the proposal for creating a shared learning ethos and its implementation. Over a period of almost four decades different pieces of legislation have encouraged the development of cooperative care delivery practice. Thus, politically, the vision and maybe the resources have always been implicitly available. Against these assumptions it is suggested that the reason why shared learning has not yet been fully implemented is the psychological phenomenon of professional ethnocentrism. The conclusion is that overcoming professional ethnocentrism will create an environment conducive to shared learning.