Barbara DeVivo
Westmount University, USA
Title: Qualitative ethnographic study of interdisciplinary collaboration in decision making of TBs in hospitals
Biography:
Abstract:
The purpose of hospital Tumor Boards (TBs) is for physicians to incorporate evidenced-based clinical guidelines and multidisciplinary
perspectives to find the best treatment program for patients; however, interdisciplinary collaboration can influence the decisionmaking
process and outcome. This qualitative ethnographic case study investigated team-based mechanisms to review the influence
of collaboration on cancer treatment decision-making. TB observation and interview data were gathered over three years (2013-
2016) at seven research hospitals in the United States and United Kingdom (44 Tumor Boards). Results showed an interdisciplinary
collaborative culture exists in some TBs influencing treatment decision-making processes and outcomes. Characteristics of these TBs
include: consistent and shared preferences and identity among members, consensual and coordinated group interactions, deliberate
guided practice and collective learning process, role and pattern recognition, shared power, interdependency and partnership. Future
research should focus on better understanding TB decision-making with comparisons between organizational structures.
Keywords: Tumor Board, interdisciplinary collaboration, decision-making, multidisciplinary, teamwork