Evaluation of the impact of interdisciplinarity in cancer care

Abstract

BackgroundTeamwork is a key component of the health care renewal strategy emphasized in Quebec, elsewhere in Canada and in other countries to enhance the quality of oncology services. While this innovation would appear beneficial in theory, empirical evidences of its impact are limited. Current efforts in Quebec to encourage the development of local interdisciplinary teams in all hospitals offer a unique opportunity to assess the anticipated benefits. These teams working in hospital outpatient clinics are responsible for treatment, follow-up and patient support. The study objective is to assess the impact of interdisciplinarity on cancer patients and health professionals.Methods/DesignThis is a quasi-experimental study with three comparison groups distinguished by intensity of interdisciplinarity: strong, moderate and weak. The study will use a random sample of 12 local teams in Quebec, stratified by intensity of interdisciplinarity. The instrument to measure the intensity of the interdisciplinarity, developed in collaboration with experts, encompasses five dimensions referring to aspects of team structure and process. Self-administered questionnaires will be used to measure the impact of interdisciplinarity on patients (health care utilization, continuity of care and cancer services responsiveness) and on professionals (professional well-being, assessment of teamwork and perception of teamwork climate). Approximately 100 health professionals working on the selected teams and 2000 patients will be recruited. Statistical analyses will include descriptive statistics and comparative analysis of the impact observed according to the strata of interdisciplinarity. Fixed and random multivariate statistical models (multilevel analyses) will also be used.DiscussionThis study will pinpoint to what extent interdisciplinarity is linked to quality of care and meets the complex and varied needs of cancer patients. It will ascertain to what extent interdisciplinary teamwork facilitated the work of professionals. Such findings are important given the growing prevalence of cancer and the importance of attracting and retaining health professionals to work with cancer patients.

Assessing Interprofessional Teamwork in Inpatient Medical Oncology Units

“…4 Teamwork is especially important for patients with cancer, who commonly receive complex and potentially toxic treatments involving many different care professionals. Although research has characterized teamwork for patients with cancer in outpatient settings, 7,8 little is known about the quality of teamwork and collaboration between nurses and physicians of various types caring for patients in adult inpatient oncology units. We aimed to characterize teamwork among professionals in the inpatient oncology setting and to determine what barriers exist to establishing strong collaboration.…”

Preoperative radiotherapy for rectal cancer: a comparative study of quality control adherence at two cancer hospitals in Spain and Poland

“…In recent years, more and more medical societies and institutions have come to accept the importance of using a multidisciplinary approach in cancer care to provide patients with optimal treatment for their specific characteristics 17–20. In this audit, we found that 35% of patients at the ICO were not presented to the board.…”

New oral targeted therapies for metastatic breast cancer disrupt the traditional patients’ management-A healthcare providers’ view

“…For Freidson (1970), this device of professional self-regulation has not yet attained its optimal development, peers often opting for an avoidance strategy rather than a real sanction. Communication between healthcare professionals (O'neill & Twelves, 2002), and cross-cutting approaches (Tremblay et al, 2011) are necessary in the face of such treatments.…”