Knowledge and attitude toward interdisciplinary team working among obstetricians and gynecologists in teaching hospitals in South East Nigeria

Abstract

BackgroundInterdisciplinary team working could facilitate the efficient provision and coordination of increasingly diverse health services, thereby improving the quality of patient care. The purpose of this study was to describe knowledge of interdisciplinary team working among obstetricians and gynecologists in two teaching hospitals in South East Nigeria and to determine their attitude toward an interdisciplinary collaborative approach to patient care in these institutions.MethodsThis was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and was carried out using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 17.0 for Windows.ResultsIn total, 116 doctors participated in the study. The mean age of the respondents was 31.9±7.0 (range 22–51) years. Approximately 74% of respondents were aware of the concept of interdisciplinary team working. Approximately 15% of respondents who were aware of the concept of interdisciplinary team working had very good knowledge of it; 52% had good knowledge and 33% had poor knowledge. Twenty-nine percent of knowledgeable respondents reported ever receiving formal teaching/training on interdisciplinary team working in the course of their professional development. About 78% of those aware of team working believed that interdisciplinary teams would be useful in obstetrics and gynecology practice in Nigeria, with 89% stating that it would be very useful. Approximately 77% of those aware of team working would support establishment and implementation of interdisciplinary teams at their centers.ConclusionThere was a high degree of knowledge of the concept and a positive attitude toward interdisciplinary team working among obstetricians and gynecologists in the study centers. This suggests that the attitude of physicians may not be an impediment to implementation of a collaborative interdisciplinary approach to clinical care in the study centers.

Prevalence and Pattern of Birth Brachial Plexus Injuries Seen in Nigeria

“…The interdisciplinary model is effective in rehabilitation setting because it allows for a more holistic, collaborative, and patient-focused approach. [22][23][24] Even though BBPI is defined as injury to the brachial plexus before or during childbirth, 2,3 infants could either have the transient or permanent BBPI. A transient BBPI is identified when a child shows evidence of elbow flexion, shoulder external rotation, or forearm supination at the third month of life with at least muscle strength of three using the muscle grading system and has full recovery of symptoms by the first year of life.…”

Teamwork, Professional Identities, Conflict, and Industrial Action in Nigerian Healthcare

“… 16 However, the idealization of collaboration has not been supported by research in developing countries where the push factors for collaboration may be more prevalent. 17 A review conducted by the WHO study group on interprofessional education and collaborative practice illustrates this point, revealing 396 studies from 20 countries but only 8% representation from developing countries. 18…”

“…24 Several surveys in the country have also suggested the overwhelming recognition of interprofessional conflicts by health professionals, with perceived differential treatment between the professions, the assertion of role boundaries, and communication barriers as predominant causes. 17 , 25 – 27 In terms of its impact on health workers, one survey in the North-eastern region found interprofessional conflicts to be associated with diminished motivation. 28 Physical assaults and IAs have also been reported to be conventional modalities of expression of interprofessional conflicts with IAs been more likely.…”

Nigerian healthcare workers’ perception of transdisciplinary approach to older adults’ care: A qualitative case study

“…The team approach to care in older adults is currently in its infant state in developing countries like Nigeria. Iyoke et al 3 described that a typical Nigerian multiple professional healthcare team is made of medical doctors and other HCPs and is usually led by a clinician consultant (medical doctor of various specialists). Each discipline is expected to practice within its strict disciplinary boundaries.…”

“…2 Several studies have shown that compared to the effort of one discipline, teamwork among professionals from different healthcare disciplines is more effective in improving older peoples’ quality of life, reducing adverse events, reducing mortality, reducing the length of stay in the hospital, and increasing satisfaction with service provision. 3,4 A systematic review showed that older adults need inter-professional team-based intervention to improve health outcomes such as physical function, independence, and activities of daily living in an acute care setting. 5 The American Geriatric Society reiterates the importance of inter-professional collaboration and its benefit for the health care system, patients and caregivers.…”