A comparative study on trust, collaboration and teamwork of other healthcare personnel by nurses working on integrated nursing care service wards versus nurses on general wards

Purpose: This study was performed to compare the perceived level of trust, collaboration, and teamwork about other healthcare personnel, professionals and assistants between nurses who work on integrated nursing care service wards and general wards. Methods: Participants were 216 nurses working on integrated nursing care service wards and general wards of 5 general hospitals located in Kyeongido and Kyeongsangbuk-do (integrated nursing wards: 109, general wards: 107). Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using x² test, two sample independent t-test and Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) with SPSS/WIN 23.0 programs. In particular, MANCOVA was conducted after controlling two independent variable covariants which are marital status (p=.045) and work department (p=.022) which had significant differences for both groups and three dependent variables which is trust, collaboration, and teamwork that highly correlated. Results: There were significant differences in the dependent variables of trust (p=.001), collaboration (p=.014), and teamwork (p<.001) between the two groups of nurses. The mean scores for trust, collaboration, and teamwork with other healthcare personnel as perceived by nurses working on integrated nursing care service wards were significantly lower than that of nurses on general wards. Conclusion: These findings show that strategies are needed to strengthen the trust, collaboration, and teamwork among nurses working on integrated nursing care service wards and other healthcare personnel.