The relationship between team climate and interprofessional collaboration: Preliminary results of a mixed methods study

Abstract

Relational and organisational factors are key elements of interprofessional collaboration (IPC) and team climate. Few studies have explored the relationship between IPC and team climate. This article presents a study that aimed to explore IPC in primary healthcare teams and understand how the assessment of team climate may provide insights into IPC. A mixed methods study design was adopted. In Stage 1 of the study, team climate was assessed using the Team Climate Inventory with 159 professionals in 18 interprofessional teams based in São Paulo, Brazil. In Stage 2, data were collected through in-depth interviews with a sample of team members who participated in the first stage of the study. Results from Stage 1 provided an overview of factors relevant to teamwork, which in turn informed our exploration of the relationship between team climate and IPC. Preliminary findings from Stage 2 indicated that teams with a more positive team climate (in particular, greater participative safety) also reported more effective communication and mutual support. In conclusion, team climate provided insights into IPC, especially regarding aspects of communication and interaction in teams. Further research will provide a better understanding of differences and areas of overlap between team climate and IPC. It will potentially contribute for an innovative theoretical approach to explore interprofessional work in primary care settings.

Innovation climate: A systematic review of the literature and agenda for future research

“…For example, Weiss, Hoegl, and Gibbert (2011), drawing on research on financial resource scarcity (Hoegl, Gibbert, & Mazursky, 2008) and the 'path of least resistance' work by Ward (1994), found that team innovation climate predicted higher levels of product quality and project efficiency, but only in projects where there were financial resource constraints. Agreli, Peduzzi, and Bailey (2017) found that in teams in which team climate was stronger, they reported higher levels of communication and mutual support. Agreli, Peduzzi, and Bailey (2017) found that in teams in which team climate was stronger, they reported higher levels of communication and mutual support.…”

“…Pei (2017) found a strong relationship between team innovation climate and team creativity. Agreli, Peduzzi, and Bailey (2017) found that in teams in which team climate was stronger, they reported higher levels of communication and mutual support. Although, Bower et al (2003) and Cramm, Strating, and Nieboer (2014) found a strong link between team innovation climate and quality of care provided to patients in general medical practices and chronic care, respectively, Goh et al (2009) found no link between team innovation climate and quality of care provided to patients in general practice.…”

Organizational climate and teamwork at the Family Health Strategy

“…In addition, it is essential to achieve managerial goals, as it affects work process and motivation of workers. However, in order to achieve the goals, it is necessary to promote satisfaction and pleasure in the work environment, minimize hierarchical rigidity, and implement participatory management (2) . Team climate also refers to the design of teamwork as it involves the integration and collaboration among members of the same team (3) .…”

“…In order to consolidate teamwork in the field of Health, it is necessary to establish objectives, to have concrete goals well defined and common to the group of workers. Thus, based on individual and group growth, it is possible to contribute to the development of care that is centered on the user and his community (2) .…”

“…It evolved towards the establishment of objectives, with welldefined concrete goals and common to the group of workers to consolidate teamwork in the area of Health. It is considered that from individual and group growth, teamwork contributes to the development of a more secure care due to the more communicative, participative and collaborative climate centered on the user and the characteristics of the territory/community where he lives (2) .…”