TY - JOUR
AU - F. Chatten
AU - S. Burch
A1 - 
AB - PURPOSE: The juncture of integrated care and professional identity is an under-researched yet critical intersection. This study aims to support the development of integration by gaining further understanding about the professional identity of integrated care team members. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Qualitative case study methodology using observations, semi-structured interviews and focus groups was used to explore professional identity in three UK newly integrated, community teams. The cases were nursing (n = 17), therapy (n = 13) and mental health nursing (n = 3) professions. FINDINGS: All professions identified with their own professional group. Some new identification with the integrated teams was evident, although individual professional group identity was always salient. Key themes were professional role, perceived lack of understanding, defensiveness and security. Participants employed tactics to prove their worth, strengthen their professional identity and counteract perceived threats against their profession. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Profession specific identities should be recognised and nurtured to reduce defensiveness and counteract threat. Differences between professions should be acknowledged and space given to improve understanding between professions. When individual professional identity is supported, team members can start to form a new, additional identity within their integrated team. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Identification with professional in-groups was based on security, not discrimination against other professions. Professional groups didn't feel understood by other professional groups but still maintained respect and recognition for their expertise. Tactics employed to counteract professional identity threat included proving how busy they were.
AD - Faculty of Health, Medicine and Social Care, Anglia Ruskin University - Cambridge Campus , Cambridge, UK.
AN - 40721991
BT - J Health Organ Manag
C5 - Education & Workforce
CP - 8
DA - Nov 10
DO - 10.1108/jhom-09-2024-0387
DP - NLM
IS - 8
JF - J Health Organ Manag
LA - eng
N2 - PURPOSE: The juncture of integrated care and professional identity is an under-researched yet critical intersection. This study aims to support the development of integration by gaining further understanding about the professional identity of integrated care team members. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Qualitative case study methodology using observations, semi-structured interviews and focus groups was used to explore professional identity in three UK newly integrated, community teams. The cases were nursing (n = 17), therapy (n = 13) and mental health nursing (n = 3) professions. FINDINGS: All professions identified with their own professional group. Some new identification with the integrated teams was evident, although individual professional group identity was always salient. Key themes were professional role, perceived lack of understanding, defensiveness and security. Participants employed tactics to prove their worth, strengthen their professional identity and counteract perceived threats against their profession. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Profession specific identities should be recognised and nurtured to reduce defensiveness and counteract threat. Differences between professions should be acknowledged and space given to improve understanding between professions. When individual professional identity is supported, team members can start to form a new, additional identity within their integrated team. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Identification with professional in-groups was based on security, not discrimination against other professions. Professional groups didn't feel understood by other professional groups but still maintained respect and recognition for their expertise. Tactics employed to counteract professional identity threat included proving how busy they were.
PY - 2025
SN - 1477-7266
SP - 1933
EP - 1948+
ST - Examining professional identity in newly integrated care teams
T1 - Examining professional identity in newly integrated care teams
T2 - J Health Organ Manag
TI - Examining professional identity in newly integrated care teams
U1 - Education & Workforce
U3 - 10.1108/jhom-09-2024-0387
VL - 39
VO - 1477-7266
Y1 - 2025
ER -