Physician-nurse conflict resolution styles in primary health care. 2022

Barbara Delak, and Klemen Širok
Community Health Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

To examine the conflict resolution styles used in the physician-nurse teamwork in primary health care, depending on individual characteristics, contextual factors, and organizational and sociocultural contexts. Conflicts significantly affect the quality of healthcare services and staffing challenges, and consequently the performance and efficiency of organizations. Their management plays an important role in any healthcare organizations and deserves the attention of researcher's healthcare management and team leaders. A descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational design. Thomas-Kilmann Conflict MODE Instrument was used on a sample comprising 173 nurses and 125 physicians working in teams at the Community Health Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia, in 2018. The most predominant conflict resolution styles were compromising and avoiding, followed by accommodating, collaborating and competing. The predominant resolution style among nurses was avoiding, and among physicians was compromising. There were statistically significant differences in the conflict resolution style according to gender (χ2 (1) = 0.035, p < .059), education (χ2 (1) = 0.014, p < .05) and tenure (χ2 (1) = 0.025, p < .05). Our research results differed from those of other studies, possibly due to the difference in the sample and research setting. They indicated that the specifics of work and situation significantly moderate conflict in healthcare organizations. The established divergence of results indicates the need for future research on conflict in healthcare settings to more consistently consider the situational context and the role of management and/or leadership.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010820 Physicians Individuals licensed to practice medicine. Physician
D011320 Primary Health Care Care which provides integrated, accessible health care services by clinicians who are accountable for addressing a large majority of personal health care needs, developing a sustained partnership with patients, and practicing in the context of family and community. (JAMA 1995;273(3):192) Primary Care,Primary Healthcare,Care, Primary,Care, Primary Health,Health Care, Primary,Healthcare, Primary
D003220 Conflict, Psychological The internal individual struggle resulting from incompatible or opposing needs, drives, or external and internal demands. In group interactions, competitive or opposing action of incompatibles: antagonistic state or action (as of divergent ideas, interests, or persons). (from Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 10th ed) Conflict, Psychology,Psychological Conflict,Psychological Conflicts
D003430 Cross-Sectional Studies Studies in which the presence or absence of disease or other health-related variables are determined in each member of the study population or in a representative sample at one particular time. This contrasts with LONGITUDINAL STUDIES which are followed over a period of time. Disease Frequency Surveys,Prevalence Studies,Analysis, Cross-Sectional,Cross Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Survey,Surveys, Disease Frequency,Analyses, Cross Sectional,Analyses, Cross-Sectional,Analysis, Cross Sectional,Cross Sectional Analyses,Cross Sectional Studies,Cross Sectional Survey,Cross-Sectional Analyses,Cross-Sectional Analysis,Cross-Sectional Study,Cross-Sectional Surveys,Disease Frequency Survey,Prevalence Study,Studies, Cross-Sectional,Studies, Prevalence,Study, Cross-Sectional,Study, Prevalence,Survey, Cross-Sectional,Survey, Disease Frequency,Surveys, Cross-Sectional
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D017008 Negotiating The process of bargaining in order to arrive at an agreement or compromise on a matter of importance to the parties involved. It also applies to the hearing and determination of a case by a third party chosen by the parties in controversy, as well as the interposing of a third party to reconcile the parties in controversy. Arbitrating,Mediating,Arbitration,Conflict Resolution,Mediation,Negotiation,Conflict Resolutions,Negotiations,Resolution, Conflict

Related Publications

Barbara Delak, and Klemen Širok
January 1991, Journal of professional nursing : official journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing,
Barbara Delak, and Klemen Širok
November 1992, The Journal of nursing administration,
Barbara Delak, and Klemen Širok
December 2012, Contemporary nurse,
Barbara Delak, and Klemen Širok
August 2011, Journal of youth and adolescence,
Barbara Delak, and Klemen Širok
May 2002, Applied nursing research : ANR,
Barbara Delak, and Klemen Širok
May 2020, Journal of health economics,
Barbara Delak, and Klemen Širok
January 2016, International journal of clinical and health psychology : IJCHP,
Barbara Delak, and Klemen Širok
September 1964, Journal of the South Carolina Medical Association,
Barbara Delak, and Klemen Širok
January 2006, Nursing research,
Copied contents to your clipboard!