Healthcare professionals’ perceptions about interprofessional teamwork: a national survey within Swedish child healthcare services

Abstract

Background Globally, interprofessional teamwork is described as a key method to promote health and prevent illness in children, namely, to achieve the goals of Child Healthcare Services (CHS). However, how teamwork should be designed within CHS to achieve the goals is unclear. This study aimed to investigate healthcare professionals’ perceptions about 1) taking part in interprofessional teamwork, 2) team characteristics, and 3) whether the perceptions were related to professional affiliation or workplace. Methods A national cross-sectional survey was conducted using a web-based study-specific questionnaire sent to all accessible nurses, physicians, and psychologists in Swedish CHS (n = 3552). The response rate was 31.5%. To identify possible associations, logistic regressions were conducted. Results Almost all respondents, 1096/1119 (97.9%), reported taking part in some type of interprofessional teamwork within the Swedish CHS. Among those, the most common was team-based visits (82.2%). It was perceived that performing team-based visits resulted in fulfilled goals, expertise exceeding individual team members’ competences, provision of high-quality care, and meeting children’s and families’ needs, to a greater extent, than if not performing team-based visits. Correspondingly, working as a team in parental groups was perceived as resulting in fulfilled goals, meeting the needs of children and their families, and continuity within the team to a greater extent than if not working together in a team. Professional affiliation was associated with different perceptions and types of teamwork. Family Centers were positively associated with all types of teamwork as well as continuity within the team. Conclusions Healthcare professionals’ perceptions about team characteristics were associated with professional affiliation, workplace, and type of teamwork (defined as team activities) within the CHS. Professionals within Swedish CHS, taking part in team-based visits and in interprofessional teamwork in parental groups, perceived that the team fulfilled its goals and met the needs of children and families to a greater extent than professionals not taking part in these types of teamwork. Professionals at Family Centers were more likely to work in teams in different ways. Knowledge about interprofessional teamwork for individuals and groups in Swedish CHS might also be valuable in other healthcare settings, dealing with complex needs.

Perceived needs for team‐based visits in Swedish child healthcare services exceed its existence—A mixed‐methods study targeting healthcare professionals

“…Since there was no pre‐existing questionnaire, a study‐specific questionnaire based on the theory and field research was developed by the research group, having adequate experiences. Face validity was assessed through consultation with several experts in CHS 10,11 . For content validity, the questionnaire content was pilot tested and adjusted before its final release 28…”

“…Quantitative data from the first and the second part of the questionnaire have been previously analysed and reported 10,11 . Here, we focused on the qualitative data from the first and second part.…”

“…Other professionals can take part in targeted TBVs, and targeted TBVs can also be conducted in other places, for example, the child's home 4,6 . A previous study has shown that healthcare professionals participating in TBVs perceive goal fulfilment, and they meet the children's and family's needs to a greater extent than professionals that do not participate in TBVs 10 . However, the distribution of TBVs in Swedish CHS is unequal 11…”

The Effect of Interprofessional Collaboration and Transformational Leadership on Patient Safety With Work Motivation as Intervening Variables

“…If interprofessional collaboration is done well, patient safety management can be implemented (Abdurrouf & Pandin, 2021;Busari et al, 2017;Hennus et al, 2021). Moreover, if interprofessional collaboration can be implemented effectively, it will be an impetus for nurses to provide effective nursing care (Dongen et al, 2016;Nygren et al, 2021;Visser et al, 2020;Yune et al, 2020). Because of the ability to work together, individuals can avoid fatal work risks in a safe and quality health delivery system (Campo et al, 2018).…”

“…With this cooperative system, nurses will be more eager to provide effective nursing care. Several relevant studies have proven that interprofessional collaboration can increase work motivation (Dongen et al, 2016;Nygren et al, 2021;Visser et al, 2020;Yune et al, 2020), so it can be assumed that the research hypothesis: The degree to which a leader is called transformational. It is mainly measured in terms of the effect of leadership on followers.…”