Contemporary Conflict Management in the Sports Medicine Setting

Abstract

PURPOSE. Conflict management is an important aspect in the administration and organization of sports medicine teams. Health care professionals attempt to exert personalities, influences, biases that may create points of misunderstanding within everyday team operations. METHODS. This review gathers contemporary information and theories towards conflict and conflict management, including definitions of current terminology and current concepts. This study also identifies opportunities that team members may utilize when dealing with conflict. Four main types of conflict are discussed and are juxtaposed with sports medicine scenarios. These types include: goal related conflict, affective conflict, procedural conflict, and cognitive conflict. A review of recent literature also provides strategies for dealing with conflict and creating commitment within team members. RESULTS. Potential effects and benefits of various conflict management approaches are discussed. Evidence is then presented to further understand and appreciate the elements involved with conflict when intertwining healthcare professionals in a sports medicine setting. CONCLUSION. In conflict management, recognizing that all team members have differing viewpoints can serve as a resolution point which encourages team members to embrace their differences. Finally, a case study summarizes the theories for conflict management.