How to Build Effective Health Care Teams in Caring for Heart Failure Patients: A Qualitative Study

Background: The Complexity of care for heart failure patients has increased the need for professionals to collaborate in the form of teams. Finding the right strategies to eliminate these problems will increase the effectiveness of care. This study was done to explore team members’ experiences and provide strategies for building effective teams for the care of heart failure patients. Methods: In this content analysis study, data were collected through unstructured in‐depth interviews with 58 team members involved in the care of heart failure patients. The selection of participants began with purposive sampling and was extended using theoretical sampling. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using an inductive conventional method. Results: Fourteen subcategories and six categories were formed: equal professional rights in the team, embodying knowledge and experience, team integrity, self-awareness of teamwork, teamwork continuity, and skillfulness of the team. The final theme was "Striving for team evolution and consensus." Conclusion: The results showed that the teamwork strategies are being used in Iranian health care centers, but different strategies should be used to provide more effective care for heart failure (HF) patients. These strategies are found at individual, organizational, and sociocultural levels. Training and application of these strategies by health care providers will facilitate the achievement of teamwork goals in the care of HF patients.