Partners in care: investigating community nurses' understanding of an interdisciplinary team-based approach to primary care.

AIM

This study investigated community nurses understanding of teamwork in primary care.

BACKGROUND

Internationally trends indicate a movement towards the development of primary care as a key element in health service delivery. This will have implications for the organisation of community nursing services by creating the need for more coherent integrated structures for service delivery. In this context, teamwork is associated with a range of positive outcomes including higher levels of quality care and job satisfaction.

DESIGN

A research study was undertaken to investigate community nurses' understanding of an interdisciplinary team-based approach to primary care using a qualitative research design. Focus groups were held with community nurses working in the areas of public health nursing, general nursing and practice nursing.

METHODS

Three focus groups were established. Twenty seven participants were recruited to form three groups comprising public health nurses (n = 10), general nurses (n = 10) and practice nurses (n = 7). A sequenced-questioning framework guided the systematic process of data collection. Data analysis engaged a thematic content analysis framework.

RESULTS

The analysis of the data revealed the following themes: teamwork, promoting community services, promoting health, professional roles and skills and knowledge for primary care.

CONCLUSION

Nurses can contribute significantly to the re-orientation and development of primary care services. There must be greater efforts to encourage interdisciplinary approaches. The outcomes of this study can inform strategies for effective team working in primary care. Collective team efforts enhance patient care and effective teamwork requires a greater understanding of group processes and team development.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Nurses clearly articulated their contribution to primary care, but recognised that there are many challenges to overcome. An enhanced primary care team has the potential to allow the public access to both the individual and collective skills and knowledge of team members.