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Relational Coordination at the Primary–Secondary Care Interface: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Survey in the South Tyrolean Healthcare System

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  • Christian J. Wiedermann

    (Institute of General Practice and Public Health, Claudiana—College of Health Professions, 39100 Bolzano, Italy
    Department of Public Health, Medical Decision Making and Health Technology Assessment, University of Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, 6060 Hall in Tirol, Austria)

  • Verena Barbieri

    (Institute of General Practice and Public Health, Claudiana—College of Health Professions, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Adolf Engl

    (Institute of General Practice and Public Health, Claudiana—College of Health Professions, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

  • Giuliano Piccoliori

    (Institute of General Practice and Public Health, Claudiana—College of Health Professions, 39100 Bolzano, Italy)

Abstract

Understanding the dynamics of teamwork and communication among healthcare professionals is crucial in the face of evolving healthcare challenges. This study assessed relational coordination among healthcare professionals in the South Tyrolean healthcare system in Italy, focusing on communication and teamwork dynamics in a cross-sectional survey. Using the validated Relational Coordination Survey (RCS) instrument and 525 completed online responses, the questionnaire aimed to understand the implications of different levels of relational coordination ratings by general practitioners, hospital physicians, nurses, and administrative personnel (response rate 26%). The demographics of the participants revealed a predominance of female professionals (64%), with an average age of 50 and 18 years of service. The resulting RCS scores varied significantly across professional groups, with nurses reporting the highest within-group scores, indicating moderate coordination, and administrators reporting the lowest scores, reflecting areas of weak coordination. Between-group relational coordination was generally perceived as weak across professional groups, with the least weakness observed between general practitioners and nurses. German or Italian language and health district affiliation emerged as significant factors influencing relational coordination ratings, highlighting the need for differentiated understanding and strategies in multilingual and diverse regional settings. Assessments of interdisciplinary feedback and referral practices highlight the variation in teamwork and communication weaknesses and underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve relational coordination. This study provides insights into the complexity of relational dynamics in health care settings. This suggests that improving relational coordination through tailored strategies could significantly improve team effectiveness, quality of patient care, and overall system efficiency.

Suggested Citation

  • Christian J. Wiedermann & Verena Barbieri & Adolf Engl & Giuliano Piccoliori, 2024. "Relational Coordination at the Primary–Secondary Care Interface: Insights from a Cross-Sectional Survey in the South Tyrolean Healthcare System," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(4), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:21:y:2024:i:4:p:425-:d:1367630
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jody Hoffer Gittell, 2002. "Coordinating Mechanisms in Care Provider Groups: Relational Coordination as a Mediator and Input Uncertainty as a Moderator of Performance Effects," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 48(11), pages 1408-1426, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Christian J. Wiedermann, 2025. "Preserving Continuity and Trust in Primary Care: Strategies for Implementing Team-Based Models in South Tyrol, Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(4), pages 1-13, March.

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