The importance of multidisciplinary teamwork and team climate for relational coordination among teams delivering care to older patients

Abstract

AimTo identify predictors of relational coordination among professionals delivering care to older patients.BackgroundRelational coordination is known to enhance quality of care in hospitals. The underlying mechanisms, however, remain poorly understood.DesignThis cross-sectional study was part of a larger evaluation study examining the opportunity to prevent loss of function in older patients due to hospitalization in the Netherlands.MethodsThis study was performed in spring 2010 among team members delivering care to older hospitalized patients (192 respondents; 44% response rate) in one hospital. Relational coordination was measured by the Relational Coordination survey; team climate by the Team Climate Inventory and questions were asked about participation in multidisciplinary team meetings and disciplines represented in these meetings. To account for the hierarchical structure, a multilevel analysis was performed.ResultsCorrelation analysis revealed a positive relationship among being female, being a nurse and relational coordination; medical specialists showed a negative relationship. The number of disciplines represented during multidisciplinary team meetings and team climate were positively related with relational coordination. The multilevel analysis showed a positive relationship between the number of disciplines represented during multidisciplinary team meetings and team climate with relational coordination.ConclusionsThe enhancement of team climate and attendance of diverse professionals during multidisciplinary team meetings are expected to improve relational coordination. Furthermore, this study underscores the importance of enhancing relational coordination between medical specialists and other professionals.

Communication and Relational Ties in Inter-Professional Teams in Norwegian Specialized Health Care: A Multicentre Study of Relational Coordination

“…This may reflect physicians typically having a central, coordinating role in inter-professional teams in specialized health-care settings in Norway. However, this result is contrary to that of Hartgerink et al [23]; they found that being a physician was associated with lower perceived team communication and relational ties. The authors explained this negative association as the result of medical specialists often making their treatment decisions independently of others—and consequently not interacting frequently with other team members.…”

“…One explanation for this finding may be that women tend to be more oriented towards interpersonal relations and social interactions—and therefore provide higher communication sub-scale scores—than men [42]. Research has shown that nurses were more positive towards collaborating in a team environment than physicians, who traditionally learn to make more independent decisions [2343]. Another study found a positive relationship between women and the degree of relational coordination [23].…”

“…Research has shown that nurses were more positive towards collaborating in a team environment than physicians, who traditionally learn to make more independent decisions [2343]. Another study found a positive relationship between women and the degree of relational coordination [23]. …”

“…The Relational Coordination Survey was among the 10 recommended measurement tools [8]. This survey is used within health-care services as well as in primary care, community, and hospital settings; it is a useful tool when measuring the quality of communication and relational ties in inter-professional teams in different parts of health care [2223242526]. …”

Heart transplant centers with multidisciplinary team show a higher level of chronic illness management – Findings from the International BRIGHT Study

“…It is well documented in the field of health sociology, that healthcare professionals' need to maintain professional identities hinders interdisciplinary collaboration. 26 Hartgerink et al 27 found that physicians were less open to interdisciplinary collaboration compared to nurses. Even within the medical profession, doctors have been found to share more information with colleagues from the same discipline.…”