Self-care to exert care and the teamwork’s dilemma

Abstract

The narratives of health service users interviewed in the framework of a research project carried out in the health services system in the Province of Mendoza, Argentina, have raised questions about the absence of a "humanized treatment," particularly when examining aspects involved in the perceived quality of care. Also, the professionals responsible for providing these services express discomfort associated with the demands for immediate care responses, numerous burdens in short periods, and emphasis on the lack of opportunities for training and promotion of teamwork. Besides, these aspects are valuable devices to improve their work, acting as a protective framework in terms of their health practices and conditions. The present paper follows a theoretical-conceptual methodology based on a literature review that addresses these issues. The general objective is to contribute from the psychology area to work in the health field, deepening knowledge about health processes, e.g., health-illness-care, and high- lighting its eminently social character. Among the specific objectives, the aim is to propose an assessment of the health conditions of professionals whose mission is to care for, protect, restore, or maintain the state of health of their patients. It also aims to analyze criteria for teamwork practices among health professionals, their impact on their health, and the quality of care they provide, particularly in contexts affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The results achieved in this review raise questions for analyzing proposals that contribute to the well- being of health professionals and the quality of care they can provide based on the formation of work teams.