Roles and responsibilities of family physicians on geriatric health care teams: Health care team members' perspectives.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the beliefs and attitudes of FPs and health care professionals (HCPs) regarding FPs' roles and responsibilities on interdisciplinary geriatric health care teams.


METHODS
Qualitative study using focus groups.


METHODS
Calgary Health Region.


METHODS
Seventeen FPs and 22 HCPs working on geriatric health care teams.


METHODS
Four 90-minute focus groups were conducted with FPs, followed by 2 additional 90-minute focus groups with HCPs. The FP focus groups discussed 4 vignettes of typical teamwork scenarios. Discussions were transcribed and the 4 researchers analyzed and coded themes and subthemes and developed the HCP focus group questions. These questions asked about HCPs' expectations of FPs on teams, experiences with FPs on teams, and perspectives on optimal roles on teams. Several meetings were held to determine themes and subthemes.


RESULTS
Family physicians identified patient centredness, role delineation for team members, team dynamics, and team structure as critical to team success. Both FPs and HCPs had a continuum of beliefs about the role FPs should play on teams, including whether FPs should be autonomous or collaborative decision makers, the extent to which FPs should work within or outside teams, whether FPs should be leaders or simply members of teams, and the level of responsibility implied or explicit in their roles.


CONCLUSIONS
Comments from FPs and HCPs identified intraprofessional and interprofessional tensions that could affect team practice and impede the development of high-functioning teams. It will be important, as primary care reform continues, to help FPs and HCPs learn how to work together effectively on teams so that patients receive the best possible care.
Wright
Bruce
B
G301, 3330 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1. wrightb@ucalgary.ca
Lockyer
Jocelyn
J
Fidler
Herta
H
Hofmeister
Marianna
M
D000416:Alberta; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003657:Decision Making; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007857:Leadership; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010819:Physician's Role; D010821:Physicians, Family / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011787:Quality of Health Care