title: Ten principles of good interdisciplinary team work.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interdisciplinary team work is increasingly prevalent, supported by policies and practices that bring care closer to the patient and challenge traditional professional boundaries. To date, there has been a great deal of emphasis on the processes of team work, and in some cases, outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study draws on two sources of knowledge to identify the attributes of a good interdisciplinary team; a published systematic review of the literature on interdisciplinary team work, and the perceptions of over 253 staff from 11 community rehabilitation and intermediate care teams in the UK. These data sources were merged using qualitative content analysis to arrive at a framework that identifies characteristics and proposes ten competencies that support effective interdisciplinary team work.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ten characteristics underpinning effective interdisciplinary team work were identified: positive leadership and management attributes; communication strategies and structures; personal rewards, training and development; appropriate resources and procedures; appropriate skill mix; supportive team climate; individual characteristics that support interdisciplinary team work; clarity of vision; quality and outcomes of care; and respecting and understanding roles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We propose competency statements that an effective interdisciplinary team functioning at a high level should demonstrate.
authors.affiliation: Southern Cross University, Military Road, East Lismore, 2480, Australia. susan.nancarrow@scu.edu.au.
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Nancarrow
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ariss
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Enderby
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roots