Interdisciplinary health care teams and expressions of subjectivity at work

Abstract

This qualitative study was carried out with two interdisciplinary healthcare teams. One of them deals with palliative cancer patient's care, either in hospital or at home, while the other one deals with elderly outpatients care. This study aims to verify how healthcare professionals express their subjectivity within work dynamics context. The research was based on historic dialectic materialism and interdisciplinary work. Data were collected through semi-structured interviewsand systematic observation.Theresultspointout thatcolleagues', patients'and familymembers'recognition of their tasks as well as respect and trust amongst the team members, institutional recognition and autonomy at work have a positive influence on the interdisciplinary team members. On the other hand, dealing with pain and terminal patients make these professionals suffer. We conclude that work organization experiences in healthcare contribute to improve confidence and that autonomy and solidarity at work are important to the expressions of subjectivity, to provide work satisfaction and to improve service quality