What professionals say and do: the tension between egalitarianism and hierarchy in interprofessional teamwork

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to explore the power dynamics in interprofessional teamwork by conducting an ethnographic study of three interprofessional teams working in mental health and substance use services in Norway. Data were collected through 14 observation sessions and 18 in-depth interviews with health and social work professionals. Given the potential difference between “what people say and what people do,” we explored how ideas of power were articulated by health and social care professionals and how such structures were observed to be played out in practice. The findings suggest a presence of contrasting egalitarian and hierarchical structures, and that professionals were aware of the resulting tension and operated within it. This study contributes to the literature on interprofessional health and social care through providing an analysis of the power dynamics of teamwork interaction and how professionals relate to such structures. The results are relevant to a broad context of interprofessionalism as they provide valuable insight into how power should be understood as a continuum of changeable positions and motivations.

KEYWORDS:

• Health service
• interprofessional
• Norway
• power
• social work
• teamwork

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the informants who participated in this study, as well as the reviewers for their comments and suggestions.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Henriette Skyberg

Henriette Lund Skyberg is an anthropologist holding a Ph.D. degree in Social science. She works as a senior researcher. Her interests include research on professionalism, mental health, and substance use services. She has published several articles on interprofessional healthcare.

Dag Jenssen

Dag Jenssen is an Associate Professor teaching the philosophy of social science at the Department of Social Work, Child Welfare and Social Policy, Oslo Metropolitan University. His research focus is forms of knowledge in social work, and values in social science. He is also the author of a textbook on social work knowledge.