Contradictions in surgical work teams

ABSTRACT

Teamwork and communication are essential to effective work groups in health care. This project investigated how an impending technology change spurred the staff in an ophthalmological surgical department to improve their teamwork and communication processes. Data were gathered using focus groups, key informant interviews, and workplace observations involving 56 employees. Qualitative, interpretive analysis indicated that lack of communication impacted team processes and job satisfaction. Participants indicated that sharing knowledge and developing policy knowledge were problematic, especially as those processes concerned job duties. Results were interpreted using structurating activity theory. Analysis identified system-level and structural-level contradictions that hindered activity accomplishment. Several practical implications of findings are offered, including using the experience of work team contradictions as opportunities to transform practices, implementing ongoing inter-professional training for work teams, and providing opportunities for work team members to be reflective about their team experiences. Future research suggestions are offered for extending findings.

KEYWORDS:

• Health care
• knowledge sharing
• policy
• structurating activity theory
• teamwork

Acknowledgments

The project reported in this article was conducted by the lead author as her culminating master’s project under the supervision of the second author. The authors thank Dr James Anderson for his feedback throughout the project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.