title: Team supervision in multiprofessional teams: team members' descriptions of the effects as highlighted by group interviews.
abstract: The aim of the study was to describe the effects of team supervision in multiprofessional teams as perceived by team members. The literature describes team supervision as a way to develop collaboration in multiprofessional teams. However, little empirical research into the effects of team supervision is available. A research project was undertaken on five units of a university hospital between 1995 and 1998. Data were collected using group interviews with 62 interviewees and were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Team members' perceptions of the feeling of togetherness varied. Communication had become more open in the teams, but the frankness of expression varied: communication had generally become more tactful, whereas in one of the teams frankness offended some members. Team members had learned to know each other. This had improved mutual understanding, but also increased tension. Teams' working methods had changed. Joint decision making had developed, but conflicts had also emerged. Motivation for work had improved as a result of the awareness of shared problems. However, motivation had been lessened by frustration caused by slow progress in the team. Perceptions of the effects of team supervision in the multiprofessional teams varied by units and teams. The study showed that team supervision is a challenge to supervisors.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Canada. kristiina.hyrkas@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Kristiina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hyrkäs
authors.forename: Kaija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Appelqvist-Schmidlechner
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005387:Finland; D006126:Group Processes; D006785:Hospitals, University; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009042:Motivation; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012189:Retrospective Studies