This article, published in the APSF Newsletter, describes the essence of prosocial behaviors and how these behaviors can be fostered to enhance team collaboration in procedural care. The goal is to raise awareness of the need for cultural change to address ongoing workforce and efficiency challenges.
Demand for health care services continues to grow while staffing shortages are stressing an already vulnerable system. Burnout rates are high and increasing, putting more pressure on those who remain, leading to more burnout. These challenges can limit the ability to provide services and make it difficult to achieve and sustain efficiency and patient safety targets. New approaches are needed to foster a stable engaged workforce and mitigate ongoing quality and safety problems. There is evidence from sectors other than health care that “prosocial” behaviors among people who work together lead to effective teamwork and greater satisfaction for everyone.
Feldman J, Houmanfar R, Fearon M, et al. Reduce burnout, improve safety and efficiency: consider prosocial behavior. APSF Newsletter. 2026;1:24–27.