Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress 2023 EHA Congress 2023 ASCO Annual Meeting
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

At a glance: The ONWARDS insulin icodec trials

A round-up of the ONWARDS phase 3 clinical trials evaluating the novel weekly insulin icodec in people with diabetes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
World Journal of Surgery
Published in: World Journal of Surgery 9/2011

01-09-2011

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

Published in: World Journal of Surgery | Issue 9/2011

Login to get access

Abstract

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.
Literature
1.
Fleissig A, Jenkins V, Catt S et al (2006) Multidisciplinary teams in cancer care: are they effective in the UK? Lancet Oncol 7:935–943PubMedCrossRef
2.
Anonymous (2004) Manual for cancer services. Department of Health, London
3.
4.
McAvoy B (2003) Optimising cancer care in Australia. Aust Fam Physician 32:369–372PubMed
5.
Anonymous (1998) Relative a l’organisation des soins en cancérologie dans les établissements d’hospitalisation publics et privés. Circulaire DGS/DH/AFS no. 98-213. Paris. 98[17], pp 177–191
6.
Wright FC, Lookhong N, Urbach D et al (2009) Multidisciplinary cancer conferences: identifying opportunities to promote implementation. Ann Surg Oncol 16:2731–2737PubMedCrossRef
7.
Chan WF, Cheung PS, Epstein RJ et al (2006) Multidisciplinary approach to the management of breast cancer in Hong Kong. World J Surg 30:2095–2100PubMedCrossRef
8.
Houssami N, Sainsbury R (2006) Breast cancer: multidisciplinary care and clinical outcomes. Eur J Cancer 42:2480–2491PubMedCrossRef
9.
Hong NJ, Wright FC, Gagliardi AR et al (2010) Examining the potential relationship between multidisciplinary cancer care and patient survival: an international literature review. J Surg Oncol 102:125–134PubMedCrossRef
10.
11.
12.
Haward R, Amir Z, Borrill C et al (2003) Breast cancer teams: the impact of constitution, new cancer workload, and methods of operation on their effectiveness. Br J Cancer 89:15–22PubMedCrossRef
13.
Stalfors J, Lundberg C, Westin T (2007) Quality assessment of a multidisciplinary tumour meeting for patients with head and neck cancer. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 127:82–87CrossRef
14.
Kidger J, Murdoch J, Donovan JL et al (2009) Clinical decision-making in a multidisciplinary gynaecological cancer team: a qualitative study. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 116:511–517CrossRef
15.
Lanceley A, Savage J, Menon U et al (2008) Influences on multidisciplinary team decision-making. Int J Gynecol Cancer 18:215–222PubMedCrossRef
16.
Chang JH, Vines E, Bertsch H et al (2001) The impact of a multidisciplinary breast cancer center on recommendations for patient management: the University of Pennsylvania experience. Cancer 91:1231–1237PubMedCrossRef
17.
Newman E, Guest A, Helvie M et al (2006) Changes in surgical management resulting from case review at a breast cancer multldisciplinary tumor board. Cancer 107:2343–2351CrossRef
18.
Kee FO, Owen T, Leathem R (2004) Decision making in a multidisciplinary cancer team: does team discussion result in better quality decisions? Med Decis Making 24:602–613PubMedCrossRef
19.
Augestad KM, Lindsetmo RO, Stulberg J et al (2010) International preoperative rectal cancer management: staging, neoadjuvant treatment, and impact of multidisciplinary teams. World J Surg 34:2689–2700PubMedCrossRef
20.
Pope C, Ziebland S, Mays N (2000) Qualitative research in health care: analysing qualitative data. BMJ 320:114–116PubMedCrossRef
21.
Undre S, Sevdalis N, Healey AN et al (2006) Teamwork in the operating theatre: cohesion or confusion? J Eval Clin Pract 12:182–189PubMedCrossRef
22.
Jacklin R, Sevdalis N, Darzi A et al (2008) Mapping surgical practice decision-making: an interview study to evaluate decisions in surgical care. Am J Surg 195:689–695PubMedCrossRef
23.
Arora S, Sevdalis N, Nestel D et al (2009) Managing intra-operative stress: what do surgeons want from a crisis training program? Am J Surg 197:537–543PubMedCrossRef
24.
Kneebone R, Fry H (2010) Principles and methods in qualitative research. In: Athanasiou T, Darzi A, Debas H (eds) Key topics in surgical research and methodology, vol 1. Springer Verlag, Berlin, pp 243–254
25.
Borrill C, West M, Shapiro D et al (2000) Team working and effectiveness in health care. Br J Health Care Manage 6:364–371
26.
Macaskill EJ, Thrush S, Walker EM et al (2006) Surgeons’ views on multi-disciplinary breast meetings. Eur J Cancer 42:905–908PubMedCrossRef
27.
Delaney G, Jacob S, Iedema R et al (2004) Comparison of face-to-face and video-conferenced multidisciplinary clinical meetings. Australas Radiol 48:487–492PubMedCrossRef
28.
Lamb B, Wong H, Vincent C, et al (2011) Teamwork and team performance in urological multidisciplinary cancer teams: development and evaluation of an observational assessment tool. Qual Saf Health Care (in press)
29.
Amir Z, Scully J, Borrill C (2004) The professional role of breast cancer nurses in multi-disciplinary breast cancer care teams. Eur J Oncol Nurs 8:306–314PubMedCrossRef
30.
National Cancer Action Team (2009) Multidisciplinary team members’ views about MDT working: results from a survey commissioned by the National Cancer Action Team. NCAT, London
31.
32.
Devitt B, Philip J, McLachlan SA et al (2010) Team dynamics, decision making, and attitudes toward multidisciplinary cancer meetings: health professionals’ perspectives. J Oncol Pract 6:e17–e20PubMedCrossRef
33.
Fletcher G, Flin R, McGeorge P et al (2003) Anaesthetists’ non-technical skills (ANTS): evaluation of a behavioural marker system. Br J Anaesth 90:580–588PubMedCrossRef
34.
Undre S, Sevdalis N, Healey AN et al (2007) Observational teamwork assessment for surgery (OTAS): refinement and application in urological surgery. World J Surg 31:1373–1381PubMedCrossRef
35.
Sevdalis N, Lyons M, Healey AN et al (2009) Observational teamwork assessment for surgery: construct validation with expert versus novice raters. Ann Surg 249:1047–1051PubMedCrossRef
Metadata
Title
Teamwork and Team Decision-making at Multidisciplinary Cancer Conferences: Barriers, Facilitators, and Opportunities for Improvement
Publication date
01-09-2011
Published in
World Journal of Surgery / Issue 9/2011
Print ISSN: 0364-2313
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2323
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-011-1152-1

Other articles of this Issue 9/2011

World Journal of Surgery 9/2011 Go to the issue

Letter

Pancreatic Cancer: The Challenge of the Future in Tumorigenesis-based Prevention

OriginalPaper

Thoracoscopic Simultaneous Bilateral Bullectomy Through Apicoposterior Transmediastinal Access for Bilateral Spontaneous Pneumothorax: A Challenging Approach

OriginalPaper

The Effects of Morphine–Neostigmine and Secretin Provocation on Pancreaticobiliary Morphology in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized, Double-blind Crossover Study Using Serial MRCP

OriginalPaper

Does Gastric Resection Have a Role in the Management of Severe Postfundoplication Gastric Dysfunction?

OriginalPaper

Learning Curve of Transumbilical Single Incision Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (SILS): A Preliminary Study of 80 Selected Patients with Benign Gallbladder Diseases

Letter

Is It Possible to Train Surgeons for Rural Africa? A Report of a Successful International Program: Reply