How Do Health Worker Qualities Affect Collaborative Skills? A Qualitative Study in Rural Indonesia Primary Health Services

Abstract

Health problems are complicated, even more so in remote areas. Collaboration has emerged as a solution to this complex problem. Some specific health worker qualities have been identified as related to the success of the collaboration, but the transformation of these qualities into collaborative behaviour remains unclear. An epistemological model of collaborative skills development was built and it was confirmed by the experiences of health workers. A research model based on interpretivism epistemology was also developed. The model was then generated using a qualitative methodology with a coding framework using deductive and inductive approaches based on the literature review and the interviews. Ten previously assigned health workers were interviewed to list their personal qualities and functions to overcome collaboration problems. The specific personal qualities of health workers determine each type of collaboration. The personality of health workers does not affect their collaborative skills with the community but is directly related to interprofessional collaboration skills.