Invisible cobwebs in teamwork—Impediments to the care of patients with heart failure: A qualitative study

AIM: This study was done to explore team member's perception regarding impediments to the care of patients with heart failure (HF). BACKGROUND: Complex, chronic HF patients require interprofessional teams to address their multiple health needs. Working in a team has some challenges in achieving goals. Sociocultural differences in Iranian therapeutic team members causes some impediments to provide effective care in the form of a team. METHODS: Data were collected through unstructured in-depth interviews with 58 team members in caring for the patients with HF. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Twelve subcategories and 5 categories were formed: inefficient supportive network, inadequacy of training and treatment, affectability and variability challenges for the team, arduous working conditions, and heavy physicians shadow on nursing. The final theme emerged as "Invisible cobwebs in teamwork." CONCLUSION: Despite teamwork being an efficient way of achieving goals, several impediments like a cobweb hinder it from becoming fully exploited. Teamwork has a desirable output when all the members feel the same sense of authority and see themselves in an integrated team and managers have a crucial role in removing these impediments.