Qualitative examination of collaboration in team-based primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to describe Ontario primary care teams’ experiences with collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive qualitative methods using focus groups conducted virtually for data collection.SettingPrimary care teams located in Ontario, Canada.ParticipantsOur study conducted 11 focus groups with 10 primary care teams, with a total of 48 participants reflecting a diverse range of interprofessional healthcare providers and administrators working in primary care.ResultsThree themes were identified using thematic analysis: (1) prepandemic team functioning facilitated adaptation, (2) new processes of team interactions and collaboration, and (3) team as a foundation of support.ConclusionsResults revealed the importance of collaboration for provider well-being, and the challenges of providing collaborative team-based primary care in the pandemic context. Caution against converting primary care collaboration to predominantly virtual modalities postpandemic is recommended. Further research on team functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic in other healthcare organisations will offer additional insight regarding how primary care teams can work collaboratively in a postpandemic environment.

No size fits all – a qualitative study of factors that enable adaptive capacity in diverse hospital teams

“…These results also indicate that hospitals could improve care quality by investing in competence, training, and activities to improve relations and collaboration in teams. The quality of teamwork is associated with the quality and safety of the care provided (Rosen et al, 2018), and sound team collaboration enhances the patient's experience and outcome (Ashcroft et al, 2023). System improvement should focus on the internal structuring of teams such as ensuring continuity, procedure clarity, and available tools, etc., alongside the organization around teams and the division and coordination of the different complex tasks performed within and across teams in the organization.…”

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“…Although variations exist across countries, jurisdictions, and organizations, PHC has contributed to all phases of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout [2,11]. As the first point of access in the healthcare system, PHC has a long history of successfully delivering immunization programmes [12][13][14][15][16][17][18].…”

“…While there is some emerging data on the experiences of family physicians with COVID-19 vaccinations [8], there are few studies that have explored the role of interprofessional PHC teams in planning and delivering COVID-19 vaccines [11]. Early reports demonstrate that PHC teams have contributed to all phases of the COVID-19 vaccination rollouts [2,11], yet little is known about the unique experiences of interprofessional PHC teams in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in Ontario, Canada. The key objective informing this study was to explore the experiences and perspectives of interprofessional PHC teams in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccination across Ontario, Canada.…”