Interprofessional conflict in healthcare Our objective in Reducing interprofessional conflict in healthcare: Implementing conflict management training into the medical student curriculum Nov 3, 2024 · Conflict Resolution Strategies Healthcare is an inevitable aspect of any collaborative environment, and healthcare teams are no exception. Effective communication, teamwork, and leadership are essential for promoting collaborative practice and resolving conflicts constructively. Interprofessional conflicts (IC) in healthcare settings pose significant challenges for medical residents, who are often trained in discipline-specific environments. It’s not just about the long hours or the high stakes—it’s about managing the complexities of human emotions and medical needs simultaneously. A total of 95 doctors and 92 All healthcare professionals working in the OR were eligible to participate, including scrub and circulating nurses, anaesthesiologists, perfusionists, anaesthesia assistants, surgeons, and anaesthesia and surgical post-graduate trainees. An expert opinion article suggests ways to construct a conflict resolution program within a healthcare organization. Learn how each impacts patient care and team efficiency. When tensions rise, conflict resolution skills must come into play. 1 There is emerging evidence that when interprofessional healthcare teams practice collaboratively it can enhance the delivery of person-centred care and lead to improved patient and health systems outcomes. Nov 12, 2020 · Extract Conflict in healthcare is commonplace, may be increasing, and is hardly surprising given the combination of a high stress environment and multiple stakeholder involvement. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Apply strategies for managing conflict within the context of interprofessional teams. Feb 22, 2017 · Unresolved conflicts among healthcare professionals can lead to difficult patient care consequences. This article examines PHCTs members' experiences with conflict and responses to conflict. We analyzed quality of care using the dimensions of care Sep 19, 2025 · Interprofessional conflict, however does not have to be negative. In addition to professional competencies, they also need to acquire interprofessional competencies. 1. Oct 19, 2022 · This study aimed at articulating contextual strategies to mitigate and prevent inter-professional conflict among healthcare workers in Nigeria. We sought to compare and contrast characteristics of intra- versus interprofessional conflicts to inform future training programs. In a hospital setting, every disagreement has Abstract Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in healthcare has emerged as an indispensable approach to enhance patient outcomes, optimize healthcare delivery systems, and promote quality care. Typically associated with change and short-lived, it may be functional Are certain health professionals particularly overworked? To prevent and reduce interprofessional conflict, the RNAO (2012) has developed specific recommendations for organizations to consider related to organizational structures and climate, leadership support, staffing practices, communication practices, and professional components. , 2019). Sep 15, 2025 · Interprofessional team conflicts in healthcare settings are inevitable and can significantly impact patient care quality, team effectiveness, and provider well-being. Conflict is inevitable in healthcare and often intensified by the high-stakes, stressful environment and diverse team dynamics. This book will help students achieve success not only in their educational program, but as they experience various Mar 2, 2022 · We conclude that the instrumental use of the term dual agent to include "the other" (the manager or the clinician) in a superlative and inclusive category can be considered a reframing strategy to solve inherent interprofessional conflicts and to implement more collaborative models in healthcare. Conflict within interprofessional healthcare teams, when not effectively resolved, has been linked to detrimental consequences; however, effective conflict resolution has been shown to enhance Conflict resolution in nursing is a crucial skill for nurse leaders. Discover the differences between intraprofessional and interprofessional collaboration in healthcare. Alarmingly, knowledge of healthcare professionals’ ability to resolve conflict has been limited, largely due to the challenges Jun 21, 2022 · Patient centered care (PCC) and interprofessional collaboration (IPC) remain important goals for all healthcare systems. This comprehensive review examines the nature, sources, and management of conflicts in interprofessional healthcare teams, with particular attention to evidence-based resolution strategies. In the U. However, conflict can have negative effects on patient care, job satisfaction, personal wellness, and professional productivity. Healthcare systems have been historically hierarchical in nature with physicians regularly taking a leadership position. Meaningful conflict resolution provides a positive and inviting workplace for the members of the healthcare team and organization. Recognize the role of interprofessional communication in health care settings. 2 - 4 In an effort to train Healthcare Professionals In today's fast-paced and high-pressure healthcare environments, conflicts can often arise, hindering effective patient care and interprofessional collaboration. As a medical student myself Increasingly, primary health care teams (PHCTs) depend on the contributions of multiple professionals. Apr 6, 2023 · Health care professionals, such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory technologists' work in complex, stressful environments that are usually prone to conflicts. 2, 4 Common sources of conflict include passive-aggressive communication, clique behaviors, lateral or vertical This study was designed to identity if interprofessional conflicts existed in health teams in health institutions in southeast Nigeria, and to explore their nature, course, identify the extant resolution mechanisms and to start to identify and document feasible mechanisms to mitigate the conflicts. Are certain health professionals particularly overworked? To prevent and reduce interprofessional conflict, the RNAO (2012) has developed specific recommendations for organizations to consider related to organizational structures and climate, leadership support, staffing practices, communication practices, and professional components. To ensure the smooth functioning of healthcare settings, it is imperative to implement effective conflict resolution strategies. An The quiz, evaluation form, and certification appear on pp. Characteristics of conflicts occurring within intraprofessional or between interprofessional teams can vary and are poorly understood. Effective interprofessional collaboration fosters effective teamwork among members of an interprofessional client care team to optimize client outcomes Many governments adopted healthcare networks as a new strategy to address the complex healthcare challenges (eg, multidisciplinary care) by fostering effective clinical and interprofessional collaboration (IPC) across clinical pathways. Oct 11, 2018 · Purpose: This study aims to describe interprofessional conflicts in a hospital setting from the perspective of three groups of health science students. Additionally, it delves Abstract Adverse patient outcomes are often the result of conflict or poor communication among healthcare professionals. Mar 28, 2019 · Dear EditorI read with great interest the article by Broukhim et al. This chapter focuses on professional communication in diverse health care settings, effective communication techniques in difficult conversations and conflict management. The transition to a multidisciplinary team approach, which is increasingly Jun 21, 2022 · Patient centered care (PCC) and interprofessional collaboration (IPC) remain important goals for all healthcare systems. Methods: A critical review of the conflict literature across many fields was undertaken using the method identified by Grant and Booth, incorporating literature—search Aug 26, 2010 · Conflict in interprofessional teams is not a new phenomenon. 1–3 However, barriers such as structural limitations, inconsistent strategies, and inadequate communication can hinder its effectiveness. With healthcare teams composed of professionals from various disciplines—each with unique expertise, responsibilities, and perspectives—the potential for misunderstandings Conflict Resolution Styles The effective resolution of unmanageable conflicts in healthcare organizations warrants the systematic implementation of five styles of the Thomas-Kilman Instrument Conflict within interprofessional healthcare teams, when not effectively resolved, has been linked to detrimental consequences; however, effective conflict resolution has been shown to enhance team performance, increase patient safety, and improve patient outcomes. Managing conflict in the workplace is a time-consuming but necessary task for the physician leader. Overview of this Chapter This chapter is the Part B of communication. This task is complex as it spans multiple domains: the development of professional identity, the understanding of roles and responsibilities of team members We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. 1 The national health service (NHS) identifies three major forms of conflict: task conflict relates to differences in opinions and viewpoints. By implementing interprofessional collaboration into healthcare environments, multiple disciplines can… Jul 28, 2022 · Research conducted on conflict between Registered Nurses (RNs) has established that it happens regularly within the hospital setting, that it adversely affects the health and well-being of RNs, impacts the effective functioning of the health care organization, and compromises quality patient care. For example, healthcare professionals may have different disciplinary perspectives that inform their understanding of a situation, and may have different priorities in terms of client care. Conflicts between physicians and Sep 19, 2025 · Interprofessional Collaboration Competency (IPC-C) Framework Interprofessional Conflict Resolution While interprofessional conflict has the potential to be an uncomfortable experience amongst health team members, it is often a reality in collaborative practice. Jun 7, 2023 · Explore three strategies that can help you reduce interprofessional conflict and foster a more collaborative work culture in healthcare. Interprofessional collaborative practice has been identified as the cornerstone for high-quality, safe, patient-centered care. This phenomenological study was conducted using in-depth interviews with 121 participants from 16 PHCTs (10 urban and 6 rural) including a wide range of health This article aims to highlight the issues surrounding interprofessional communication in healthcare, at the same time as addressing the potential facilitators and barriers for developing improved collaborative links between healthcare providers. Aug 30, 2024 · Introduction: Although concern related to conflicts within health care teams has been discussed in the literature, most studies have focused on individuals’ personal conflict management style MeSH terms Delivery of Health Care Health Facilities Humans Interprofessional Relations* Negotiating* Interprofessional conflict resolution happens when healthcare providers/students work as a team that actively engages in addressing disagreements and responds efectively to all types of conflict. This article explores the importance of implementing proactive and collaborative approaches to conflict Jan 6, 2023 · The primary obligation of healthcare professionals is the well-being of patients. This study aimed to collect information that is needed to develop interprofessional education curricula by examining the current status of interprofessional conflicts and the demand for interprofessional education. A study of conflict in the acute care setting in 323 ICUs in 24 countries found that: 72% of all clinicians reported conflict, often severe, in the prior week. Sep 10, 2023 · Interprofessional collaboration is the practice of approaching patient care from a team-based perspective, with a team comprised of multiple health workers with varying professional backgrounds. Introduction Interprofessional conflicts in healthcare teams are not a new phenomenon. Role clarity is a crucial issue for effective interprofessional collaboration. May 6, 2016 · ABSTRACT Conflict within interprofessional healthcare teams, when not effectively resolved, has been linked to detrimental consequences; however, effective conflict resolution has been shown to enhance team performance, increase patient safety, and improve patient outcomes. An interview with various healthcare professionals at a Swiss teaching hospital found that 4 out of 10 conflict situations affect patient care. Conflicts arise due to multiple factors, including resource limitations, communication barriers, and varied perspectives on patient care. 1 Trainees from all health care professions need to be prepared to work effectively in patient care teams. Abstract Conflict within interprofessional healthcare teams, when not effectively resolved, has been linked to detrimental consequences; however, effective conflict resolution has been shown to enhance team performance, increase patient safety, and improve patient outcomes. 4 Previous studies have highlighted Aug 22, 2018 · We conducted 82 semistructured interviews with randomly selected health care professionals in a Swiss teaching hospital (October 2014 and March 2016). , 20% of residents have had serious conflicts with other healthcare professionals and 43% of surgeons have had conflicts with other team members about postoperative goals of care (Cullati et al. As healthcare organizations have applied the incident reporting system (IRS) widely for safety-related incidents, we proposed that this system might By synthesizing the knowledge and identifying antecedents, this review offers evidence to support recommendations on managing and mitigating conflict. We carried out a meta-synthesis of peer-reviewed papers published in any language from 2013–2019, using both electronic Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario (2012). However, conflict is inevitable on teams. These styles and strategies are foundational models in understanding conflict dynamics across various settings, providing a comprehensive framework for analyzing conflict management in nursing contexts. Interprofessional disagreements often cause long hospital stays and healthcare delays. This study aimed at articulating contextual strategies to mitigate and prevent inter-professional conflict among healthcare workers in Nigeria. Explore behavioural practices influencing interprofessional care teams. This expansive review article navigates through the intricacies of IPC, elucidating its definition,[1] theoretical underpinnings,[2] and profound impact on healthcare practice. In this article, the phrase conflicting working relationships (CWRs) is used to represent working Today's health systems require the collaboration of diverse staff such as physicians, nurses, social workers, and other healthcare professionals. Toronto, Canada: Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario. These tensions can really undermine teamwork, the quality of care, and overall health outcomes. Abstract Background: Whenever health professionals work together as a team, conflict is inevitable - some would argue even necessary. Interprofessional collaboration and conflict management training are necessary in health sciences curricula. Incivility in healthcare is well documented and may present in both overt and subtle ways. We analyzed quality of care using the dimensions of care Jun 13, 2021 · ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to synthesize previous knowledge about ethics in nurses’ interprofessional collaboration in clinical practice. This phenomenological study was conducted using in-depth intervie … Jul 22, 2019 · Professionals in healthcare are increasingly encouraged to work together. Abstract Background: Interprofessional rivalry marked by competition, a lack of collaboration, and role conflicts among healthcare professionals has become a major hurdle in health systems, especially in low- and middle-income areas like Abuja, Nigeria. We conducted 82 semistructured interviews with randomly selected health care professionals in a Swiss teaching hospital (October 2014 and March 2016). Methods: A critical review of the conflict literature across many fields was undertaken using the method identified by Grant and Booth, incorporating literature—search How do you define conflict in the healthcare setting? Interprofessional conflict on healthcare teams is common and often centers around misunderstandings and disagreements about a patient's treatments. 1, 2 The provision of service provided by primary care teams is associated with positive patient As with every element of healthcare, proper training should be provided and completed when it comes to interprofessional collaboration in nursing. . Conflict Management example video for the Interprofessional Education and Development Course. Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) involves various healthcare professionals working to enhance the quality of care. A nuanced understanding of conflict causes and risk factors will support the design of effective healthcare systems and the development of nursing-specific conflict interventions. Jan 20, 2022 · Introduction Interprofessional collaboration has become firmly established as an important component within education and healthcare. Describe the elements and goals of interprofessional communication. Conflict within interprofessional healthcare teams, when not effectively resolved, has been linked to detrimental consequences; however, effective conflict resolution has been shown to enhance Sep 24, 2025 · Nurses, the unsung heroes of healthcare, often find themselves at the epicenter of a stressful environment. Methods: An online questionnaire survey collected data from 225 health science students (medicine, nursing, and social work) in Northern California (USA). 2 The first step in addressing this issue is to identify the cause of the conflict. There have been concerns about the workplace interpersonal conflict (WIC) among healthcare workers. Interprofessional incivility, defined as low-intensity negative interactions with ambiguous or unclear intent to harm, has recently Mar 19, 2025 · Healthcare leaders, researchers, and practitioners are invited to test, adapt, and contribute to the ongoing development of this model, fostering a culture of interprofessional collaboration and driving the transformation of the healthcare workforce, ultimately strengthening systems for health. • This study aims to fill the gap by investigating the relationship between leadership styles, collaboration, and conflict resolution within healthcare teams • The findings of this study will provide valuable insights into effective leadership approaches that can enhance interprofessional collaboration and resolve conflicts in healthcare Managing and Mitigating Conflict in Health-care teams: Speaker Althea Stewart-Pyne, RN MHsC Program Manager Healthy Work Environment Aug 28, 2024 · Interprofessional primary care teams that bring together a mix of healthcare providers to work together are critical for providing comprehensive quality care as the first point of access, particularly for patients with more complex healthcare needs. (2018) describing interprofessional conflict and conflict management in a medical education setting. 1, 2, 3 Conflicts may be interprofessional (members of different professions) or intra-profession (members of the same profession). It has been widely recognized as a key factor in enhancing teamwork, efficiency, and patient safety. Interprofessional Conflict in Healthcare In today’s complex healthcare landscape, interprofessional conflict is an ever-present challenge that can hinder the delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centered care. Drawing from theoretical frameworks In an interprofessional environment, different perspectives will occur even when communication is relatively good. Across the six primary recruitment sites, there were over 1000 eligible healthcare professionals. Jul 1, 2024 · Results: This critical review explored existing models and schools of thought to provide an overview of how conflict is conceptualized, its focus on interpersonal and workplace issues, team conflict application and training in team conflict resolution, and finally a summary of this review's contribution to interprofessional health care team conflict and its resolution. Therefore, healthcare organizations may benefit from adopting team-based competencies for interprofessional collaboration. Inter-professional conflict can prevent the achievement of this goal, thereby potentially putting patients in peril. This scoping review examines the current healthcare literature that reported sources and consequences of conflict associated with individual, interpersonal, and organisational factors. This has acted as a catalyst for research on interprofessional collaboration. Conflicts may exist between physicians, between physicians and staff, and between the staff or the health care team and the patient or patient's family. The presence of hierarchy can be a source of conflict in View of RESOLVING INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM CONFLICTS IN HEALTHCARE: EVIDENCE, CHALLENGES, AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS Role Conflict Role conflict is important to be mindful of and to address within interprofessional teams as it can have significant negative impacts not only on healthcare workers’ physical, mental, and emotional health, but also on how they perform their jobs and on patient outcomes. Purpose: This study aims to describe interprofessional conflicts in a hospital setting from the perspective of three groups of health Moral disagreements can also cause team friction and lower treatment quality. Poorly defined roles can become a source of conflict in clinical teams and reduce the effectiveness of care and services delivered to the population. ABSTRACT Unresolved conflicts among healthcare professionals can lead to difficult patient care consequences. Over the last 30 years there have been numerous publications describing conflict between professional dyads such as physicians and nurse Oct 22, 2020 · Results and conclusions The dominant themes that emerged as barriers to teamwork include professional hierarchy, role ambiguity, and poor communication. w was to identify significant components in the field of conflict with particular attention to conceptual findings that may be integrated into understanding interprofessional health care team conflict and its resolution. Given the growing importance of interprofessional collaboration, the limited team-based competency frameworks to guide hospitals in advancing interprofessional collaboration remain a gap. Jul 17, 2023 · Request PDF | Interprofessional Team Conflict Resolution: A Critical Literature Review | Introduction Although concern related to conflicts within health care teams has been discussed in the Mar 1, 2019 · We conducted 82 semistructured interviews with randomly selected health care professionals in a Swiss teaching hospital (October 2014 and March 2016). At the same time, the health sector leadership and remuneration were the main themes concerning industrial actions. As inevitable as conflict is, it is the responsibility of everyone to increase their own awareness, accountability and active participation in unders … Increasingly, primary health care teams (PHCTs) depend on the contributions of multiple professionals. Use of interprofessional care teams can improve healthcare and delivery of services. The salience of professional identities was also demonstrated, providing a link between interprofessional conflict in the Mar 12, 2024 · Some healthcare conflicts lead to traditional litigation involving judge or jury, while physician-hospital disputes often lead to healthcare’s version of the courthouse: judicial review committees, hospital-based hearings, and appellate reviews. S. Alarmingly, knowledge of healthcare professionals' ability to resolve conflict has been limited, largely due to the We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. The term interprofessional conflict in clinical settings has a broader perspective and includes differences in viewpoints regarding patient management among all professionals in various health sectors, such as physicians, surgeons, residents, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, pathologists, and other health specialists [10]. These conflicts are usually caused by poorly defined roles, hierarchical […] The stressful nature of the medical profession is a known trigger for aggression or abuse among healthcare staff. Oct 1, 2019 · Interpersonal conflict in nursing workplaces is a complex and multi-faceted phenomenon. Conflict resolution curriculum should include fundamental elements of conflict and conflict as a normative part of inter-human communication and interaction; elements of dynamic conflict; elements of Conclusion This reflection on the interprofessional conflict experienced during my professional practice placement underscores the importance of non-technical skills in healthcare. Learn strategies to resolve conflicts in your nursing team. We sought to compare and contrast characteristics of int … Jul 22, 2019 · ABSTRACT Interprofessional collaboration and conflict management training are necessary in health sciences curricula. Authors suggest developing interprofessional We chose to focus on these styles because they are widely recognized and frequently cited in the conflict management literature. While these tenets are a cornerstone of training for nursing and allied Jan 9, 2024 · How individuals resolve onflicts will determine their effectiveness in providing the best care possible to their patients. The functionality of the | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate An overview of communication strategies physicians can use to help resolve conflict with other physicians or other healthcare providers. Participants related stories of team conflicts (intra-/interprofessional, among protagonists at the same or different hierarchical levels) and the perceived consequences for patient care. 1, 2 Conflicts may be because of misunderstanding or difficulty in comprehending Building Bridges: Establishing a Foundation for Interprofessional Collaboration in Healthcare (Revised)is an Open Educational Resource (OER) that focuses on teaching interprofessional collaboration in healthcare to students entering their respective health profession's program. Apr 29, 2025 · IPL, conflicts and controversies Drinka and Clark (2016) pointed out how in interprofessional health care teams conflicts can lead to transformation in knowledge, skills, and attitudes for enhanced learning. In a scoping review, Kim This study was designed to identity if interprofessional conflicts existed in health teams in health institutions in southeast Nigeria, and to explore their nature, course, identify the extant resolution mechanisms and to start to identify and document feasible mechanisms to mitigate the conflicts. Jul 17, 2023 · w was to identify significant components in the field of conflict with particular attention to conceptual findings that may be integrated into understanding interprofessional health care team conflict and its resolution. Alarmingly, knowledge of healthcare professionals’ ability to resolve conflict has been limited, largely due to the Jul 6, 2023 · PDF | Background: Patient care in Nigeria is essentially an interprofessional teamwork. In effective team functioning, health teams have strategies to proactively address conflict between members by developing team codes of behaviour and by clearly setting out expectations that all team members’ views are to be respected and valued. 214–216. The author suggests that education is key to successful conflict resolution. While you have most likely completed a training exercise that focused on teamwork, there are different dynamics involved when you start looking at interprofessional collaboration. 1 - 4 Unprofessional and disruptive actions can compromise patient safety, increase turnover and absenteeism, and reduce joy in work. Aug 30, 2024 · Introduction: Although concern related to conflicts within health care teams has been discussed in the literature, most studies have focused on individuals’ personal conflict management style Feb 22, 2017 · Unresolved conflicts among healthcare professionals can lead to difficult patient care consequences. Although healthcare professionals have common goals and shared values, ethical conflicts still arise during patient care. Managing and Mitigating Conflict in Health-care Teams. Interprofessional conflict, however does not have to be negative. ebqrg siez oykm rusgb frlrpyo tdulfo lsqr yknoz kfhs nad tehp kuziseqq sgxalc zovq wfheqva