Multidisciplinary Teamwork Among Healthcare Workers in the Provision of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Services in the Three Tertiary Hospitals in Fiji: A Qualitative Perspective

Introduction Teamwork is considered as an effective strategy in the provision of quality patient care, including the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Multidisciplinary teamwork (collaborative practice) among healthcare workers has been widely accepted as a source of optimising healthcare provision and improving patient safety. The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed the need to establish effective teamwork within healthcare settings, in a quest to address the challenges of fragmented health systems, to improve the utilisation of an efficient and effective workforce and to deliver high-quality patient care. We aim to understand the key contributory factors in establishing effective multidisciplinary teamwork among healthcare workers in providing PMTCT services to HIV-positive pregnant women and their infants. Methods Data were collected using in-depth interviews. Interviews were conducted in the three tertiary hospitals and associated health clinics in Fiji between April–May 2013 and February–March 2014. Ethical approvals were obtained. A total of 58 healthcare providers were interviewed, including doctors ( n = 12), midwives ( n = 19), nurses ( n = 14), laboratory technicians ( n = 5) and counsellors ( n = 8). The data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results We found that multidisciplinary teamwork was an overarching theme, followed by three sub-themes in discussing what constitutes effective multidisciplinary teamwork among these healthcare providers in delivering PMTCT services to HIV-positive pregnant women and their infants. The three sub-themes included integration of PMTCT services, effective communication and supportive colleagues. Discussion Our findings would be useful in developing strategies to foster teamwork and improve working relationships between healthcare workers in other similar settings.