Multidisciplinary teams caring for clients with chronic conditions : experiences of community nurses and allied health professionals

In Western societies the community prevalence of chronic conditions is increasing rapidly. Evidence has shown the benefits of care given to these clients by multidisciplinary teams. However, the experience of diverse health professionals working in these teams is not well understood. This study presents the experiences of members in multidisciplinary teams caring for clients with chronic conditions in the community. A qualitative descriptive study was used with a purposive sample of 34 multidisciplinary team members who participated in focus groups that were audio-taped, transcribed and analysed. Team members' experiences of working in multidisciplinary teams are described within three categories: shared purpose, working in the team, and tensions within the team. The findings provide direction for addressing team effectiveness, including issues of team leadership and evaluation of team performance.