The lived supervision experience of healthcare support workers in primary care

Abstract

This study used Knowles's adult learning theory as a framework, to explore the meanings of the lived supervision experience of healthcare support workers in primary care. In this study, seven healthcare support workers participated in tape-recorded interviews, in which they described their supervision experience, yielding transcripts that were subjected to qualitative analysis. Four themes reflective of their supervision experience emerged from the data. These were the beginning; creating the space; the supervisory relationship and outcomes of supervision. The results of the study provided a clearer understanding of the meaning of supervision from healthcare support workers' perspective and additionally, support for Knowles's adult learning theory as a framework for adult learning. At the end, the findings were presented and recommendations were made in terms of primary health care practice and research.