Qualitative examination of collaboration in team-based primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Issue 2 (2nd February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ashcroft, Rachelle; Donnelly, Catherine; Lam, Simon; Kourgiantakis, Toula; Adamson, Keith; Verilli, David; Dolovich, Lisa; Sheffield, Peter; Kirvan, Anne; Dancey, Maya; Gill, Sandeep; Mehta, Kavita; Sur, Deepy; Brown, Judith Belle
• Is Part Of: BMJ open. Volume 13:Issue 2(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-02-02
• Subjects: PRIMARY CARE -- COVID-19 -- QUALITATIVE RESEARCH; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; 610.72
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-067208
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2044-6055

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: The objective of this study was to describe Ontario primary care teams' experiences with collaboration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive qualitative methods using focus groups conducted virtually for data collection. Setting: Primary care teams located in Ontario, Canada. Participants: Our study conducted 11 focus groups with 10 primary care teams, with a total of 48 participants reflecting a diverse range of interprofessional healthcare providers and administrators working in primary care. Results: Three themes were identified using thematic analysis: (1) prepandemic team functioning facilitated adaptation, (2) new processes of team interactions and collaboration, and (3) team as a foundation of support. Conclusions: Results revealed the importance of collaboration for provider well-being, and the challenges of providing collaborative team-based primary care in the pandemic context. Caution against converting primary care collaboration to predominantly virtual modalities postpandemic is recommended. Further research on team functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic in other healthcare organisations will offer additional insight regarding how primary care teams can work collaboratively in a postpandemic environment.