An Investigation into Knowledge Sharing in CrossProfessional Teams in Healthcare A Multi-Method, Qualitative Case Study Design

This research maps team types within a tertiary teaching hospital in Oman and deepens our understanding of the factors influencing KS in cross-professional teams with a focus on tacit knowledge. It maps the intersections between cross-professional teamwork and tacit knowledge, aiming to reconcile practice and evidence.
A qualitatively driven exploratory multi-method design using a constructivist interpretivist approach. The research analysed 36 documents, 26 semi-structured interviews and 7 hybrid focus groups (HFGs) using participant-led creative exercises, the latter creating a non-traditional methodological approach to eliciting rich data. The data were integrated, and a thematic analysis applied to present a holistic exploration of the phenomena under study.
This study contributes to understanding the factors affecting KS within crossprofessional teams in Oman. Tensions around team membership and KS between departments created unease for KS behaviours, but patient-centred care (PCC) was considered a unifying factor for teamwork and KS at every level. The use of HFGs allowed for the co-production of visual artefacts mapping KS and teamwork, creating rich data. These could be adapted for further research.