Teamwork and Team Decision-making at Multidisciplinary Cancer Conferences: Barriers, Facilitators, and Opportunities for Improvement

TY - JOUR

T1 - Teamwork and Team Decision-making at Multidisciplinary Cancer Conferences

T2 - Barriers, Facilitators, and Opportunities for Improvement

AU - Lamb, Benjamin W.

AU - Sevdalis, Nick

AU - Arora, Sonal

AU - Pinto, Anna

AU - Vincent, Charles

AU - Green, James S. A.

PY - 2011/9

Y1 - 2011/9

N2 - Background: Anecdotally, multidisciplinary cancer conferences (MCCs) do not always function optimally. MCC members' experiences with and attitudes toward MCCs are explored, and barriers to and facilitators of effective team-working are identified.Methods: A total of 19 semistructured interviews were conducted with surgeons, oncologists, nurses, and administrators. Interviews explored participants' opinions on MCC attendance, information presentation, case discussion, leadership, team decision-making, and possible improvements to MCC meetings.Results: Nonattendance was associated with not having protected time to attend the MCC. Contributions to MCC discussions were unequal among the participants, and patient-centered information was ignored. Good leadership was necessary to foster inclusive case discussion. Members were positive about MCCs, but protected time, improved case selection, and working in a more structured way were possible improvements.Conclusions: Results are consistent with previous research: Members of the MCC are positive about the benefits of MCCs, although improving the way MCCs work is a goal.

AB - Background: Anecdotally, multidisciplinary cancer conferences (MCCs) do not always function optimally. MCC members' experiences with and attitudes toward MCCs are explored, and barriers to and facilitators of effective team-working are identified.Methods: A total of 19 semistructured interviews were conducted with surgeons, oncologists, nurses, and administrators. Interviews explored participants' opinions on MCC attendance, information presentation, case discussion, leadership, team decision-making, and possible improvements to MCC meetings.Results: Nonattendance was associated with not having protected time to attend the MCC. Contributions to MCC discussions were unequal among the participants, and patient-centered information was ignored. Good leadership was necessary to foster inclusive case discussion. Members were positive about MCCs, but protected time, improved case selection, and working in a more structured way were possible improvements.Conclusions: Results are consistent with previous research: Members of the MCC are positive about the benefits of MCCs, although improving the way MCCs work is a goal.

KW - BREAST-CANCER

KW - CARE

KW - MANAGEMENT

KW - IMPACT

KW - SURGERY

U2 - 10.1007/s00268-011-1152-1

DO - 10.1007/s00268-011-1152-1

M3 - Article

SN - 0364-2313

VL - 35

SP - 1970

EP - 1976

JO - World Journal of Surgery

JF - World Journal of Surgery

IS - 9

ER -