Abstract
Purpose: Health professionals are challenged to navigate a dynamic and complex healthcare system that will inevitably give rise to conflict. Research validates that a high frequency of relationship conflict within any work setting is detrimental; leading to increased staffing turnover, absenteeism, job dissatisfaction, and overall decreased productivity (Oore, Leiter, &LeBlanc, 2015). In an ever changing health care environment, the efficacy of Conflict Engagement training for health care professionals has yet to be fully evaluated as a means of combating these alarming trends.|Background: Evidence is emerging which indicates that poorly managed conflict, within the health care setting, is causing serious adverse consequences (The Joint Commission, 2008). In addition, ineffective teamwork, often in the context of unprofessional behavior, is negatively impacting patient care (Riskin et al., 2017). As the healthcare delivery model shifts towards a more interdisciplinary team approach, effective collaboration amongst all members of the health care team is even more critical to the success of innovative strategies. Education programs are also being challenged to produce students who are work-ready from the moment they flip their tassels. With expanded knowledge in the field of conflict engagement, highly skilled professionals will be better suited to facilitate communication, intervene in mediation and negotiation tactics, guide policy, and establish best practices in patient care.|Sample/Setting: This project represents an integrative review of the literature, supported by a high level of evidence, which identifies various conflict situations and contributors, in the workplace setting, which might benefit from structured conflict engagement strategies.|Methods: In the future, if this project were to be implemented, a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches would be utilized. Quantitative: survey responses; Qualitative: structured follow-up focus group interviews to determine what skill sets are identified as most influential in conflict avoidance and/or resolution in the healthcare workforce.|Results: Based on a review of the literature, the recommendation for practice will be to conduct future research studies which serve to validate the efficacy that conflict engagement training might have on overall relationship management within the health care setting.