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What do doctors mean when they talk about teamwork? : Possible implications for interprofessional care

Rydenfält, Christofer LU ; Borell, Jonas LU orcid and Erlingsdottir, Gudbjörg LU (2019) In Journal of Interprofessional Care 33(6). p.714-723
Abstract
The concept of teamwork has been associated with improved patient safety, more effective care and a better work environment. However, the academic literature on teamwork is pluralistic, and there are reports on discrepancies between theory and practice. Furthermore, healthcare professionals’ direct conceptualizations of teamwork are sometimes missing in the research.

In this study, we examine doctors’ conceptualizations of teamwork. We also investigate what doctors think is important in order to achieve good teamwork, and how the empirical findings relate to theory. Finally, we discuss the methodological implications for future studies.

The research design was explorative. The main data consisted of semi-structured... (More)
The concept of teamwork has been associated with improved patient safety, more effective care and a better work environment. However, the academic literature on teamwork is pluralistic, and there are reports on discrepancies between theory and practice. Furthermore, healthcare professionals’ direct conceptualizations of teamwork are sometimes missing in the research.

In this study, we examine doctors’ conceptualizations of teamwork. We also investigate what doctors think is important in order to achieve good teamwork, and how the empirical findings relate to theory. Finally, we discuss the methodological implications for future studies.

The research design was explorative. The main data consisted of semi-structured interviews with twenty clinically active doctors, analyzed with conventional content analysis. Additional data sources included field observations and interviews with management staff.

There was large variation in the doctors’ conceptualizations of teamwork. The only characteristic they shared in common was that team members should have specific roles. This could have consequences for practice, because the rationale behind different behaviors depends on how teamwork is conceptualized. Several of the teamwork-enabling factors identified concerned non-technical skills.

Future studies should put more emphasis on the practitioners’ perspective in the research design, to create a more grounded foundation for both research and practice. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Teamwork, Interprofessional care, doctors, conceptualization of teamwork, non-technical skills, Teamwork, Interprofessional care, conceptualization of teamwork, non-technical skills
in
Journal of Interprofessional Care
volume
33
issue
6
pages
10 pages
publisher
Informa Healthcare
external identifiers
  • pmid:30362854
  • scopus:85055711999
ISSN
1356-1820
DOI
10.1080/13561820.2018.1538943
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
df97f855-90eb-4ffd-a9e6-29cd05f61942
date added to LUP
2018-10-11 14:28:03
date last changed
2022-04-25 17:48:29
@article{df97f855-90eb-4ffd-a9e6-29cd05f61942,
  abstract     = {{The concept of teamwork has been associated with improved patient safety, more effective care and a better work environment. However, the academic literature on teamwork is pluralistic, and there are reports on discrepancies between theory and practice. Furthermore, healthcare professionals’ direct conceptualizations of teamwork are sometimes missing in the research.<br/><br/>In this study, we examine doctors’ conceptualizations of teamwork. We also investigate what doctors think is important in order to achieve good teamwork, and how the empirical findings relate to theory. Finally, we discuss the methodological implications for future studies.<br/><br/>The research design was explorative. The main data consisted of semi-structured interviews with twenty clinically active doctors, analyzed with conventional content analysis. Additional data sources included field observations and interviews with management staff.<br/><br/>There was large variation in the doctors’ conceptualizations of teamwork. The only characteristic they shared in common was that team members should have specific roles. This could have consequences for practice, because the rationale behind different behaviors depends on how teamwork is conceptualized. Several of the teamwork-enabling factors identified concerned non-technical skills.<br/><br/>Future studies should put more emphasis on the practitioners’ perspective in the research design, to create a more grounded foundation for both research and practice.}},
  author       = {{Rydenfält, Christofer and Borell, Jonas and Erlingsdottir, Gudbjörg}},
  issn         = {{1356-1820}},
  keywords     = {{Teamwork; Interprofessional care; doctors; conceptualization of teamwork; non-technical skills; Teamwork; Interprofessional care; conceptualization of teamwork; non-technical skills}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{714--723}},
  publisher    = {{Informa Healthcare}},
  series       = {{Journal of Interprofessional Care}},
  title        = {{What do doctors mean when they talk about teamwork? : Possible implications for interprofessional care}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2018.1538943}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/13561820.2018.1538943}},
  volume       = {{33}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}