Evaluation of changes to work patterns in multidisciplinary cancer team meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic: A national mixed-method survey study

Tayana Soukup; David Winters; Kia Chong Chua; Philip Rowland; Jacqueline Moneke; Ted A. Skolarus; Rasiah Bharathan; Leanne Harling; Anish Bali; Viren Asher; Tasha Gandamihardja; Nick Sevdalis; James S.A. Green; Benjamin W. Lamb

doi:10.1002/cam4.5608

Evaluation of changes to work patterns in multidisciplinary cancer team meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic: A national mixed-method survey study

Tayana Soukup^*, David Winters, Kia Chong Chua, Philip Rowland, Jacqueline Moneke, Ted A. Skolarus, Rasiah Bharathan, Leanne Harling, Anish Bali, Viren Asher, Tasha Gandamihardja, Nick Sevdalis, James S.A. Green, Benjamin W. Lamb

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: It is not well understood the overall changes that multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) have had to make in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, nor the impact that such changes, in addition to the other challenges faced by MDTs, have had on decision-making, communication, or participation in the context of MDT meetings specifically. Methods: This was a mixed method, prospective cross-sectional survey study taking place in the United Kingdom between September 2020 and August 2021. Results: The participants were 423 MDT members. Qualitative findings revealed hybrid working and possibility of virtual attendance as the change introduced because of COVID-19 that MDTs would like to maintain. However, IT-related issues, slower meetings, longer lists and delays were identified as common with improving of the IT infrastructure necessary going forward. In contrast, virtual meetings and increased attendance/availability of clinicians were highlighted as the positive outcomes resulting from the change. Quantitative findings showed significant improvement from before COVID-19 for MDT meeting organisation and logistics (M = 45, SD = 20) compared to the access (M = 50, SD = 12, t(390) = 5.028, p = 0.001), case discussions (M = 50, SD = 14, t(373) = −5.104, p = 0.001), and patient representation (M = 50, SD = 12, t(382) = −4.537, p = 0.001) at MDT meetings. Discussion: Our study explored the perception of change since COVID-19 among cancer MDTs using mixed methods. While hybrid working was preferred, challenges exist. Significant improvements in the meeting organisation and logistics were reported. Although we found no significant perceived worsening across the four domains investigated, there was an indication in this direction for the case discussions warranting further ‘live’ assessments of MDT meetings.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	8729-8741
Number of pages	13
Journal	Cancer Medicine
Volume	12
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.5608
Publication status	Published - Apr 2023

Keywords

cancer
cancer multidisciplinary team meetings
decision-making
multidisciplinary teams

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1002/cam4.5608

Cite this

Soukup, T., Winters, D., Chua, K. C., Rowland, P., Moneke, J., Skolarus, T. A., Bharathan, R., Harling, L., Bali, A., Asher, V., Gandamihardja, T., Sevdalis, N., Green, J. S. A., & Lamb, B. W. (2023). Evaluation of changes to work patterns in multidisciplinary cancer team meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic: A national mixed-method survey study. Cancer Medicine, 12(7), 8729-8741. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.5608

@article{eca7e37a08414a34ab3930e297dd12d7,

title = "Evaluation of changes to work patterns in multidisciplinary cancer team meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic: A national mixed-method survey study",

abstract = "Background: It is not well understood the overall changes that multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) have had to make in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, nor the impact that such changes, in addition to the other challenges faced by MDTs, have had on decision-making, communication, or participation in the context of MDT meetings specifically. Methods: This was a mixed method, prospective cross-sectional survey study taking place in the United Kingdom between September 2020 and August 2021. Results: The participants were 423 MDT members. Qualitative findings revealed hybrid working and possibility of virtual attendance as the change introduced because of COVID-19 that MDTs would like to maintain. However, IT-related issues, slower meetings, longer lists and delays were identified as common with improving of the IT infrastructure necessary going forward. In contrast, virtual meetings and increased attendance/availability of clinicians were highlighted as the positive outcomes resulting from the change. Quantitative findings showed significant improvement from before COVID-19 for MDT meeting organisation and logistics (M = 45, SD = 20) compared to the access (M = 50, SD = 12, t(390) = 5.028, p = 0.001), case discussions (M = 50, SD = 14, t(373) = −5.104, p = 0.001), and patient representation (M = 50, SD = 12, t(382) = −4.537, p = 0.001) at MDT meetings. Discussion: Our study explored the perception of change since COVID-19 among cancer MDTs using mixed methods. While hybrid working was preferred, challenges exist. Significant improvements in the meeting organisation and logistics were reported. Although we found no significant perceived worsening across the four domains investigated, there was an indication in this direction for the case discussions warranting further {\textquoteleft}live{\textquoteright} assessments of MDT meetings.",

keywords = "cancer, cancer multidisciplinary team meetings, decision-making, multidisciplinary teams",

author = "Tayana Soukup and David Winters and Chua, {Kia Chong} and Philip Rowland and Jacqueline Moneke and Skolarus, {Ted A.} and Rasiah Bharathan and Leanne Harling and Anish Bali and Viren Asher and Tasha Gandamihardja and Nick Sevdalis and Green, {James S.A.} and Lamb, {Benjamin W.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.",

year = "2023",

month = apr,

doi = "10.1002/cam4.5608",

language = "English",

volume = "12",

pages = "8729--8741",

journal = "Cancer Medicine",

issn = "2045-7634",

publisher = "John Wiley and Sons Ltd",

number = "7",

}

Soukup, T, Winters, D, Chua, KC, Rowland, P, Moneke, J, Skolarus, TA, Bharathan, R, Harling, L, Bali, A, Asher, V, Gandamihardja, T, Sevdalis, N, Green, JSA & Lamb, BW 2023, 'Evaluation of changes to work patterns in multidisciplinary cancer team meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic: A national mixed-method survey study', Cancer Medicine, vol. 12, no. 7, pp. 8729-8741. https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.5608

TY - JOUR

T1 - Evaluation of changes to work patterns in multidisciplinary cancer team meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic

T2 - A national mixed-method survey study

AU - Soukup, Tayana

AU - Winters, David

AU - Chua, Kia Chong

AU - Rowland, Philip

AU - Moneke, Jacqueline

AU - Skolarus, Ted A.

AU - Bharathan, Rasiah

AU - Harling, Leanne

AU - Bali, Anish

AU - Asher, Viren

AU - Gandamihardja, Tasha

AU - Sevdalis, Nick

AU - Green, James S.A.

AU - Lamb, Benjamin W.

PY - 2023/4

Y1 - 2023/4

N2 - Background: It is not well understood the overall changes that multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) have had to make in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, nor the impact that such changes, in addition to the other challenges faced by MDTs, have had on decision-making, communication, or participation in the context of MDT meetings specifically. Methods: This was a mixed method, prospective cross-sectional survey study taking place in the United Kingdom between September 2020 and August 2021. Results: The participants were 423 MDT members. Qualitative findings revealed hybrid working and possibility of virtual attendance as the change introduced because of COVID-19 that MDTs would like to maintain. However, IT-related issues, slower meetings, longer lists and delays were identified as common with improving of the IT infrastructure necessary going forward. In contrast, virtual meetings and increased attendance/availability of clinicians were highlighted as the positive outcomes resulting from the change. Quantitative findings showed significant improvement from before COVID-19 for MDT meeting organisation and logistics (M = 45, SD = 20) compared to the access (M = 50, SD = 12, t(390) = 5.028, p = 0.001), case discussions (M = 50, SD = 14, t(373) = −5.104, p = 0.001), and patient representation (M = 50, SD = 12, t(382) = −4.537, p = 0.001) at MDT meetings. Discussion: Our study explored the perception of change since COVID-19 among cancer MDTs using mixed methods. While hybrid working was preferred, challenges exist. Significant improvements in the meeting organisation and logistics were reported. Although we found no significant perceived worsening across the four domains investigated, there was an indication in this direction for the case discussions warranting further ‘live’ assessments of MDT meetings.

AB - Background: It is not well understood the overall changes that multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) have had to make in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, nor the impact that such changes, in addition to the other challenges faced by MDTs, have had on decision-making, communication, or participation in the context of MDT meetings specifically. Methods: This was a mixed method, prospective cross-sectional survey study taking place in the United Kingdom between September 2020 and August 2021. Results: The participants were 423 MDT members. Qualitative findings revealed hybrid working and possibility of virtual attendance as the change introduced because of COVID-19 that MDTs would like to maintain. However, IT-related issues, slower meetings, longer lists and delays were identified as common with improving of the IT infrastructure necessary going forward. In contrast, virtual meetings and increased attendance/availability of clinicians were highlighted as the positive outcomes resulting from the change. Quantitative findings showed significant improvement from before COVID-19 for MDT meeting organisation and logistics (M = 45, SD = 20) compared to the access (M = 50, SD = 12, t(390) = 5.028, p = 0.001), case discussions (M = 50, SD = 14, t(373) = −5.104, p = 0.001), and patient representation (M = 50, SD = 12, t(382) = −4.537, p = 0.001) at MDT meetings. Discussion: Our study explored the perception of change since COVID-19 among cancer MDTs using mixed methods. While hybrid working was preferred, challenges exist. Significant improvements in the meeting organisation and logistics were reported. Although we found no significant perceived worsening across the four domains investigated, there was an indication in this direction for the case discussions warranting further ‘live’ assessments of MDT meetings.

KW - cancer

KW - cancer multidisciplinary team meetings

KW - decision-making

KW - multidisciplinary teams

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85146357344&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1002/cam4.5608

DO - 10.1002/cam4.5608

M3 - Article

C2 - 36647755

AN - SCOPUS:85146357344

SN - 2045-7634

VL - 12

SP - 8729

EP - 8741

JO - Cancer Medicine

JF - Cancer Medicine

IS - 7

ER -

Evaluation of changes to work patterns in multidisciplinary cancer team meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic: A national mixed-method survey study

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this