Thesis Format
Integrated Article
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
Program
Nursing
Supervisor
Orchard, Carole
2nd Supervisor
Tryphonopoulos, Panagiota
Co-Supervisor
Abstract
Client needs and their complexities have increased, challenging multiple professionals to work together within health systems to reach better patient outcomes. Addressing this challenge requires interprofessional collaboration, which, while essential, may also breed conflict given that individuals from various health care disciplines each bring their unique perspectives into teamwork. While some degree of disagreement is expected, team members must be able to resolve conflicts to ensure effective patient care. However, limited information was available that described and clearly defined interprofessional conflict resolution as a concept.
The aim of this study was threefold. This study began with a concept analysis of interprofessional conflict resolution (IPCR) as a means to identify its attributes to generate instrument items. This study then carried out development and testing of the psychometric properties of an instrument designed to measure IPCR among health care teams, followed by development and evaluation of the effect of an interventional education program to resolve interprofessional conflicts in teams. Finally, the testing of a theoretically derived model linking the relationship between health care providers’ personal factors (general self-efficacy and team psychological safety) and interpersonal communication competence on interprofessional collaborative practice, and explored if these relationships were moderated by interprofessional conflict resolution. The Interprofessional Conflict Resolution Scale was found to be valid and reliable. The findings indicated that participants’ perceived learning effectiveness based on their learning outcome ratings represented 93.3% learning effectiveness from the training program. This study identified five emerging themes from participants’ reflections and open- ended answers from the feedback form supporting the transfer of learning into the practice. The theoretically derived model tested in this research study was supported by the data collected, with the exception of one hypothesis (H4).
Summary for Lay Audience
Client needs and their complexity has increased, challenging multiple professionals to work together within health systems to reach better patient outcomes. Addressing this challenge requires interprofessional collaboration, which, while essential, may also breed conflict given that individuals from various health care disciplines each bring their unique and varying perspectives into teamwork. While some degree of disagreement in teams is expected, team members must be able to resolve conflicts to ensure effective care for their patients. However, limited information is available that described and clearly defined interprofessional conflict resolution as both a concept and an outcome.
The aim of this study was threefold. First, this study validated an instrument designed to measure interprofessional (IP) conflict resolution among IP health care teams. Secondly, the study developed and evaluated the impact of an interventional education program that facilitates learning a process to resolve IP conflicts. Thirdly, the study tested a model that examined the relationships between health care providers’ general self-efficacy and team psychological safety and their interpersonal communication competence that leads to IP collaborative practice, and explored how these relationships were moderated by IP conflict resolution. The Interprofessional Conflict Resolution Scale was found to be valid and reliable. Qualitative results supported transfer of learning into practice six weeks after the training and the impact of the IPCR training program on assisting health care providers (HCPs) to resolve team conflict. Furthermore, the model was tested using a convenience sample of 266 HCPs who provided client care from three district hospitals. The results revealed a significant relationship between general self- efficacy and interpersonal communication competence, also on interprofessional collaborative practice. There was also a significant relationship between team psychological safety and interpersonal communication. However, the relationship between team psychological safety and interprofessional collaborative practice was not significant. Interprofessional conflict resolution moderated the relationship between interpersonal communication competence and IPCP. The results have implications for nursing, healthcare practice, continuing health care education, as well as for post-secondary and undergraduate health professions education. As well, the findings have relevance to guide future research in IPCR and interprofessional collaborative practice.
Recommended Citation
Ugirase, Sibylle, "The Effect of Interprofessional Conflict Resolution on Interprofessional Collaborative Practice among Health Care Provider Teams in Hospitals" (2022). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 8403.
https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/8403
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