Health Professionals' Perception of the Importance of Teamwork and Factors Influencing Teamwork - a Quantitative Cross-sectional Study.

Abstract

Background: Considering the highly sophisticated activities and the environment in which the work is carried out. It is extremely important to establish a well-organized and efficient team that will contribute to raising the quality of professional activity through its work, and in this way influence the greater satisfaction of patients and their families, but at the same time also reduce stress levels among health professionals. The efficiency of the work is primarily correlated with the exceptional communication of the members within the team.

Objective: The aim of the study was to analyze the perception of health professionals about teamwork in relation to professional qualification, workplace, level of health care, length of service, weekly working hours.

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study included health professionals from the territory of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A sociodemographic questionnaire was used and the teamwork domain of the patient safety perception questionnaire (Safety Attitudes Questionnaire -SAQ).

Results: The survey included 791 nurses employed in the public health sector at the primary, secondary and tertiary level of health care in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina who are in direct contact or interaction with patients, with at least one year of work experience.

Conclusion: Effective teams are characterized by specific knowledge, communication skills and the ability to solve problems. Good cooperation with colleagues, patients and their families, as well as all participants in the health care process, can help to accomplish the task and goal as well as possible and to achieve the desired and expected goal. The results show a positive correlation between the different examined groups, as well as great similarities in attitudes between different levels of health care.