Enhancing Healthcare Workforce Stability and Performance: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Relational Coordination Survey

Abstract

Understanding the dynamics of teamwork and communication among healthcare professionals is crucial in the face of evolving healthcare challenges. This study assessed relational coordination among healthcare professionals in the South Tyrolean healthcare system in Italy, focusing on communication and teamwork dynamics in a cross-sectional survey. Using the validated Relational Coordination Survey (RCS) instrument and 525 completed online responses, the questionnaire aimed to understand the implications of different levels of relational coordination ratings by general practitioners, hospital physicians, nurses, and administrative personnel (response rate 26%). The demographics of the participants revealed a predominance of female professionals (64%), with an average age of 50 and 18 years of service. The resulting RCS scores varied significantly across professional groups, with nurses reporting the highest within-group scores, indicating moderate coordination, and administrators reporting the lowest scores, reflecting areas of weak coordination. Between-group relational coordination was generally perceived as weak across professional groups, with the least weakness observed between general practitioners and nurses. German or Italian language and health district affiliation emerged as significant factors influencing relational coordination ratings, highlighting the need for differentiated understanding and strategies in multilingual and diverse regional settings. Assessments of interdisciplinary feedback and referral practices highlight the variation in teamwork and communication weaknesses and underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve relational coordination. This study provides insights into the complexity of relational dynamics in health care settings. It suggests that improving relational coordination through tailored strategies could significantly improve team effectiveness, quality of patient care, and overall system efficiency.

Impact of Relational Coordination on Job Satisfaction and Willingness to Stay: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Healthcare Professionals in South Tyrol, Italy

“…The first study assessed the status of RC among physicians, nurses, and administrators, laying the groundwork for understanding the broader impact of RC in diverse multilingual healthcare environments. It detailed the methodological approach, participant demographics, and intricacies of administering the RC survey in this unique setting [8]. The survey included items on job satisfaction and intention to stay, which were collected, but were not the focus of the analysis.…”

“…To increase participation, reminders were sent after the initial invitation. The response rate for the survey was 26%, with a total of 525 completed online responses, as described previously [8].…”

“…The questionnaire used was the Relational Coordination Survey (RCS), a validated instrument that assesses seven dimensions of communication and relationships integral to RC within healthcare teams (Table 1). Its findings on frequency, timeliness, accuracy of communication, problem solving, shared goals, shared knowledge, and mutual respect among healthcare professionals in South Tyrol provide the context for this second analysis [8]. Specific questions were included in the survey to measure the participants' job satisfaction and intent to stay.…”