How trust affects performance of interprofessional health-care teams.

ABSTRACT

Interprofessional teamwork in health-care settings is considered a valuable means of enhancing patient management. Literature has highlighted the importance of trust in building effective health-care teams. The present study aimed to investigate and further understand the perceptions of health-care professionals regarding trust and performance within their working team, as well as to assess the association between them and team performance. “TRUST” questionnaire, a valid instrument for measuring the relationship of trust and team performance was distributed to the members of the perioperative teams located in two different hospitals (a University and a General Hospital) in Greece. Two multivariate linear regression models were developed to reveal the significant predictors of high performance per hospital. Among the major findings revealed were 1) trust and performance were closely related 2) slight yet significant variations were observed between the University and the General Hospital and 3) trust level, years of previous experience and number of team members were among the key predictors of effective team performance. This study conveys new knowledge on trust and performance within health-care settings with limited resources and is expected to guide future interventions aiming to enhance team performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Teamwork
• team effectiveness
• surveys
• team-based care

KEYWORDS:

• Teamwork
• effective performance
• trust
• perioperative teams

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank: Erdem F, Ozen J, and Atsan N, the original developers of the “TRUST” questionnaire for providing their permission to translate, and culturally adapt the tool into Greek language. In addition, the authors acknowledge the significant contribution of all participants who provided their views and time during a very stressful and busy period for all health-care professionals in Greece.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Supplemental material

Supplementary data for this article can be accessed here.

Additional information

Funding

None

Notes on contributors

Dimitra Sifaki-Pistolla

Dr. Dimitra Sifaki-Pistolla (MPH, PhD), is an epidemiologist in the School of Medicine, University of Crete, with research and teaching activities since 2012.

Evangelos Melidoniotis

Mr. Evangelos Melidoniotis (RN, MPH), is a surgical nurse in the University hospital of Heraklion, Crete, and an active public health researcher in the School of Medicine, University of Crete.

Nilanjan Dey

Prof. Nilanjan Dey is an expert in Computer Science and Engineering whith long experience in quantitative research.

Vasiliki-Eirini Chatzea

Mrs.Vasiliki-Eirini Chatzea (MPH) is a public health researcher in the School of Medicine, University of Crete, active in research since 2012.