Communication in Medical Teams: a Literature Review

Abstract

Teamwork based on proper communication, social skills of interdisciplinary team members and proper division of roles has a direct impact on the quality of patient care. Incorrect interpretation of messages or delayed reaction to the received message cause significant problems in a teamwork. Nurses and doctors are two of the most important healthcare providers. They perform separate but complementary tasks in health care. An electronic literature search was conducted in the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases with the aim of analysing research on cooperation in healthcare teams, with a particular focus on the aspect of mutual communication between doctors and nurses. Empirical evidence may indicate that formal practices that strengthen communication and relationships among providers through participation in joint training have the potential to increase physicians’ awareness of teamwork and thereby support effective team behaviours. Of the studies reviewed, some were conducted using unvalidated survey instruments. Some examined the opinions of only one professional group, without comparing them with the opinions of other groups involved in the collaborative process. Consequently, the present findings are inadequate as a reliable foundation for scientific conclusions.