Teamwork - general practitioners and practice nurses working together in New Zealand

Area of Science:

• Primary Health Care
• Teamwork Dynamics
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Teamwork in primary health care is internationally recognized and encouraged.
• Effective teamwork can enhance staff work satisfaction and patient outcomes.
• Teamwork can be categorized as multi-, inter-, or transdisciplinary, influenced by work and organizational factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe and analyze teamwork between general practitioners and practice nurses in New Zealand.
• To understand the prevailing models of primary health care teamwork.
• To explore factors influencing team collaboration in general practice.

Main Methods:

• Data collected through a survey of general practices.
• Interviews conducted with primary health care staff and management.
• Qualitative and quantitative approaches to analyze teamwork.

Main Results:

• General practitioners and practice nurses perceive themselves as a cohesive team.
• Multidisciplinary teamwork is the predominant model, shaped by work nature and business context.
• Intensified teamwork models are observed in practices serving disadvantaged populations or managing chronic illnesses.

Conclusions:

• Teamwork concepts and classifications vary.
• Most general practice teams in New Zealand operate multidisciplinary.
• This study aims to facilitate communication and progressive team development in primary health care settings.