Team Care for the Care Team: A Scoping Review of the Relational Dimensions of Collaboration in Healthcare Contexts

Abstract

Examining team care for the care team, this scoping literature review highlights the relational and compassionate dimensions of collaboration and teamwork that can alleviate healthcare worker suffering and promote well-being in challenging contexts of care. Its goal is to provide greater conceptual clarity about team care and examine the contextual dimensions regarding the needs and facilitators of team care. Analysis of the 48 retained texts identified three broad types of communicative practice that constitute team care: sharing; supporting; and leading with compassion. The environmental conditions facilitating team care included a caring team culture and specific and accessible organizational supports. These results are crystallized into a conceptual model of team care that situates team care within a system of team and organizational needs and anticipated outcomes. Gaps in the literature are noted and avenues for future research are suggested.