Enhancing Family Medicine Practice Through Effective Primary Health Care Team Formation
© 2025 Mteeve Brian Amugune, Ian Basil Kibet, Jjuuko Edrin, Doreen Birungi A, Nyan Kyaw Swar, et al., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
This correspondence highlights the importance of team cohesiveness, patient perspectives and community engagement in enhancing primary health care team effectiveness. It emphasizes the need for clear goals while advocating for a supportive environment that prioritizes team dynamics, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes in resource-limited settings.
Dear Editor,
We were intrigued by the article “The Formation Mechanism of Primary Healthcare Team Effectiveness: A Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research” by Li and Cui in BMC Primary Care [3]. The exploration of primary healthcare team (PHCT) effectiveness through crisp set qualitative comparative analysis (csQCA) provides valuable insights, particularly regarding the interplay of conditional variables. While the study highlights key factors influencing team effectiveness, we believe that the implications for PHCTs in East Africa warrant further exploration. In our context, where healthcare systems often grapple with resource limitations and diverse patient needs, the findings can guide us in enhancing team-based care delivery.
One crucial aspect that resonates with our experiences is the role of team cohesiveness [2]. Despite the study's findings of its low impact on performance, we assert that strong relationships among team members are essential for effective communication and coordination. In East Africa, where cultural dynamics play a pivotal role in healthcare interactions, fostering a cohesive team can further lead to better patient outcomes and address unique local challenges [1].
Moreover, while the importance of clear goals was emphasized in this study, our perspective is that a singular focus might not capture the broader context of PHCT effectiveness. Instead, integrating patient perspectives and community engagement into the formation of these goals could enhance their relevance and applicability [5,6]. In our experience, engaging with patients to understand their needs and expectations leads to more tailored and effective healthcare interventions.
Furthermore, the findings of this study can inform the development of training programs for PHCTs in East Africa. By prioritizing team dynamics and incorporating patient feedback, healthcare providers can create a more supportive environment that ultimately improves health outcomes [4]
In conclusion, this study effectively explores the factors contributing to primary healthcare team effectiveness in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. While its results may not directly apply to other settings, they offer valuable evidence on the importance of clear goals for effective team performance.
Additionally, considering patient perspectives can enhance the paper’s scholarly impact on the evolving primary healthcare landscape.
Acknowledgements: We thank the authors for contributing to the primary healthcare research field and look forward to further discussions that advance our collective understanding and application of effective team-based care. Special thanks to Dr. Robin Ramsay for his guidance.
Author Contributions
Mteeve Brian Amugune, Ian Basil Kibet, Jjuuko Edrin, Doreen Birungi, Nyan Kyaw Swar, and Paul Sewagudde contributed equally to the conceptualization, writing, analysis and approval of the final manuscript.
Declarations Competing Interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Ethical considerations
This correspondence did not entail interaction with human or animal participants, and as a result, ethical approval was not needed.
Funding Information
No funding was received from any institution or agency for this correspondence.
Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this correspondence are solely those of the authors and do not represent the viewpoints of their affiliated institutions or agencies.
References
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- Heroe MS (2017) A collaborative model for supporting shared healthcare in Kenya. Master's Thesis. Strathmore University https://su-plus.strathmore.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/078679d7-146c-4218-95ba-0caccb802e07/content.
- Li C, Cui L, Zhou S, He A, Ni Z (2024) The formation mechanism of primary health care team effectiveness: A qualitative comparative analysis research, BMC Prim Care 25: 40-45.
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- Van der Hoek M, Groeneveld S, Kuipers B (2016) Goal setting in teams: goal clarity and team performance in the public sector. Rev Public Pers Admin 38: 472-493.
- Wagner EH, Flinter M, Hsu C, Cromp D, Austin BT, et al. (2017) Effective team-based primary care: Observations from innovative practices. BMC Fam Pract 18: 1-13.