Team supervision in multiprofessional teams: team members' descriptions of the effects as highlighted by group interviews

Abstract

The aim of the study was to describe the effects of team supervision in multiprofessional teams as perceived by team members. The literature describes team supervision as a way to develop collaboration in multiprofessional teams. However, little empirical research into the effects of team supervision is available. A research project was undertaken on five units of a university hospital between 1995 and 1998. Data were collected using group interviews with 62 interviewees and were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Team members' perceptions of the feeling of togetherness varied. Communication had become more open in the teams, but the frankness of expression varied: communication had generally become more tactful, whereas in one of the teams frankness offended some members. Team members had learned to know each other. This had improved mutual understanding, but also increased tension. Teams' working methods had changed. Joint decision making had developed, but conflicts had also emerged. Motivation for work had improved as a result of the awareness of shared problems. However, motivation had been lessened by frustration caused by slow progress in the team. Perceptions of the effects of team supervision in the multiprofessional teams varied by units and teams. The study showed that team supervision is a challenge to supervisors.

The Cultural Realities of Clinical Supervision in an Acute Inpatient Mental Health Setting

“…Similar findings emerged from Berg and Hallberg's (2000) study of clinical group supervision that noted that group clinical supervision was limited in relation to the honesty in which nurse participants expressed their thoughts and feelings. Alternatively, Hyrkas and Appelqvist-Schmidlechner (2003) claim that team supervision is helpful in enhancing collaboration between team members, encouraging communication, sharing opinions and experiences, improving team working methods and motivation. For nurses in the current study, existing team strategies (e.g., nurse-multidisciplinary team handover and team meetings, nursing handover, etc.)…”

Health and education provider collaboration to deliver adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Sri Lanka

“…Identifying the experiences, needs, knowledge, attitudes, skills and practices that limit or facilitate a professional's ability to collaborate within health fields such as ASRH will provide insight into how this workforce can be better supported. Collaboration has been found to offer health workers supervisory support 12,13 and learning opportunities 14 but investigations must move beyond a focus on the health sector.…”

Changes in Emotion Work at Interdisciplinary Conferences Following Clinical Supervision in a Palliative Outpatient Ward

“…Previous studies have almost exclusively focused on the subjective experiences of supervisees and analyzed them in the light of different models and theoretical approaches to supervision from, for instance, psychotherapy, counseling, or nursing (Kilminster & Jolly, 2000). Many of these studies maintain that CS provides a space for emotional relief, professional confirmation, and development of medical staff (Arvidsson, 2000;Gadgil, 1997;Hyrkäs & Appelqvist-Schmidlechner, 2003;Iskov, 1997;Pålsson et al, 1994;Teslo, 2000, pp. 34-36).…”

“…This may explain why most studies report that employees who have been supervised feel better equipped to cope with the daily professional challenges and interactions both with colleagues and patients (Arvidsson, 2000;Pålsson et al, 1994). CS has also been described as a way of improving communication and collaboration in multi-or interdisciplinary teams 2 (Hyrkäs & Appelqvist-Schmidlechner, 2003;Pålsson et al, 1994); Pålsson et al (1994) maintained that CS can be an important strategy for improving health staffs' self-perception and confidence and thereby also for gaining a greater sense of their professional role in the team. The same points are made about CS in palliative care.…”