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[Opinions and expectations of primary care professionals concerning team work]
M Viñas Maestre1, S Castel Simón
1Servicio de Neumología, Hospital de Sant Pablo, Barcelona.
Objective:
To find the views and expectations of professionals working at primary care centres on team-work.
Design:
Qualitative study. Focus group.
Setting:
The study was conducted during May 1997 at the following primary care centres: Terrassa North, Sant Llatzer (Terrassa) and Antón de Borja (Rubí). These PCCs depend on the Department of Health and Social Security and are managed by the Terrassa Health Consortium.
Participants:
38 primary care professionals, distributed in 5 independent groups of 8 doctors, 9 nurses, 3 social workers, 9 clerical staff and 9 auxiliaries.
Measurements And Results:
Qualitative methodology and focal group technique were used. Contents of session transcriptions were analysed and the information classified according to themes. Views on the definition of team-work, basic aspects of its proper functioning, restrictions met by professionals at present and suggestions to overcome these restrictions were all identified.
Conclusions:
The setting of objectives, the clear and structured definition of the functions of each professional group, the participation of all the team components in decision-taking, communication, and positive enabling approaches to team-work were all specified as basic features of the team's proper functioning. Ill-defined functions, few meetings, heterogeneity within the teams, scant team-work training, and passive and ill-adapted approaches were seen as restrictions. Training, the coordinator's activities, more meetings and changes in attitude were posed as alternatives.