Interprofessional communication in team-based care as a management strategy to achieve comprehensive health care
1
Institute of Health, São Paulo State Health Department, São Paulo, Brazil
2
Postgraduate program in Collective Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A3331
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Communication is inherent to human interaction. However, only effective communication contributes to collaboration, management, and delivery of comprehensive health care. Communication occurs between professionals and patients as well as among health professionals themselves. This study focuses on interprofessional communication within health teams to understand how interprofessional communication in health care can be used as a management strategy to promote comprehensive care in the daily routine of Primary Health Care teams in a city in Brazil’s Midwest.
METHODS:
This is an intervention study with a qualitative approach, grounded in Minayo’s theoretical framework, using focus groups for data collection. The research was conducted in three stages: Focus Group 1 (FG1), an Intervention Workshop (IW), and Focus Group 2 (FG2). The study involved one team from a Basic Health Unit and one team from Family Health Support Center, and was carried out between June and September 2024. In FG1, a guiding script was used to stimulate discussions on interprofessional communication in public health, identifying team strengths and weaknesses related to the topic. During the Intervention Workshop, the gaps identified in FG1 were addressed. In FG2, the same guiding script from FG1 was applied to assess the impacts of the workshop on participants’ knowledge construction.
RESULTS:
The intervention positively influenced the professional practices of both teams, and participants recognized the importance of effective interprofessional communication. The findings indicate an expansion of communication strategies and highlight interprofessional communication as a strategic tool for health management, with direct implications for comprehensive patient care. Additionally, participants initiated changes in their work environments following the intervention.
CONCLUSIONS:
Interprofessional communication plays a significant role in health management, the organization of work processes, and the delivery of comprehensive care. This study is innovative and has strong potential to contribute to improvements in public health service management.
Communication is inherent to human interaction. However, only effective communication contributes to collaboration, management, and delivery of comprehensive health care. Communication occurs between professionals and patients as well as among health professionals themselves. This study focuses on interprofessional communication within health teams to understand how interprofessional communication in health care can be used as a management strategy to promote comprehensive care in the daily routine of Primary Health Care teams in a city in Brazil’s Midwest.
METHODS:
This is an intervention study with a qualitative approach, grounded in Minayo’s theoretical framework, using focus groups for data collection. The research was conducted in three stages: Focus Group 1 (FG1), an Intervention Workshop (IW), and Focus Group 2 (FG2). The study involved one team from a Basic Health Unit and one team from Family Health Support Center, and was carried out between June and September 2024. In FG1, a guiding script was used to stimulate discussions on interprofessional communication in public health, identifying team strengths and weaknesses related to the topic. During the Intervention Workshop, the gaps identified in FG1 were addressed. In FG2, the same guiding script from FG1 was applied to assess the impacts of the workshop on participants’ knowledge construction.
RESULTS:
The intervention positively influenced the professional practices of both teams, and participants recognized the importance of effective interprofessional communication. The findings indicate an expansion of communication strategies and highlight interprofessional communication as a strategic tool for health management, with direct implications for comprehensive patient care. Additionally, participants initiated changes in their work environments following the intervention.
CONCLUSIONS:
Interprofessional communication plays a significant role in health management, the organization of work processes, and the delivery of comprehensive care. This study is innovative and has strong potential to contribute to improvements in public health service management.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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