Do all health and social care professionals interact equally: a study of interactions in multidisciplinary teams in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Problems around deficits in interprofessional collaboration have been identified since the National Health Service (NHS) was introduced. It is within the context of the current policy focus on improving collaborative working that this study was undertaken. A direct observational study using the Bales’ Interaction Process Analysis tool was carried out in two older persons teams to explore patterns of interaction in the multidisciplinary team meetings. Analysis revealed some key differences in the way in which different professions interacted. Occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers (SW) and nurses rarely asked for opinions and for orientation. The consultant (the individual in charge of the medical team) tended to have high rates for asking for orientation, giving opinions and giving orientation. Although some nurses did have high individual rates for the giving of orientation. The data from the research has highlighted that therapists, SWs and nurses are reluctance to voice their opinions in multidisciplinary teams and thus conformity may dominate its culture. It is suggested that therapists, SWs and nurses need to cite their opinions in teams more effectively if they are to be competent and committed patient‐centred practitioners.

Hub and spoke model for nursing student placements in the UK

“…They were required to talk directly to and negotiate time with colleagues with whom they were unfamiliar, which improved their communications skills. Learning to communicate with other professional groups is important in laying the foundations for effective interprofessional working (Atwal 2005).…”

Inter-professional Education in the Acute-Care Setting: The Clinical Instructor's Point of View

“…Atwal et al 34 have suggested that health care professionals need to participate in postgraduate training in order to further develop inter-professional leadership skills. Ongoing self-reflection and identification of learning goals and objectives in the area of IPC and IPE could become part of the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario's annual Professional Issues Self Assessment (PISA) in order to ensure that PT CIs meet the obligations and accountabilities of their current practice.…”

Public home care professionals’ experiences of being involved in food distribution to home-living elderly people in Sweden – a qualitative study with an action research approach

“…The focus is geared more towards practical performance than towards personal or social interactions between elderly persons and various professionals [42,45] . It seems that all these rules and routines limit freedom, development and spontaneity in the daily work of all groups of professionals, and consequently that these limitations overshadow the primary task, which is to offer individually adapted care and service [45,46] . However, freedom and lack of routines or lack of coherent links lead to a vague division of responsibility among the groups of professionals [47,48] .…”