title: A comprehensive approach for evaluating telemedicine-delivered multidisciplinary breast cancer meetings in southern Scotland.
abstract: Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings for decisions on cancer management are a cornerstone of UK cancer policy. We have proposed a comprehensive methodology to assess the clinical and economic effectiveness of telemedicine in this setting, which is being tested in a randomized breast cancer trial. Pre- and post-telemedicine assessment includes attitudes to and expectations of telemedicine, based on semistructured interviews. The communication content of videotapes of the MDT meeting is being scored using Borgatta's revised Interaction Process Analysis System. The technical performance of the telemedicine equipment is reported on a standardized pro forma. A short questionnaire captures key elements of professional satisfaction for each patient discussion (consensus on future management, confidence in and sharing of decision), added value of linkage, group atmosphere, overall conduct of the meeting and compliance with SIGN guidelines. A cost-minimization analysis will be used for economic assessment.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Clinical Oncology and Edinburgh Breast Unit, Western General Hospital, UK. I.Kunkler@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: I H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Kunkler
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Fielding
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brebner
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prescott
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Maclean
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cairns
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Chetty
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neades
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walls
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bowman
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: MacCoubrey
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swann
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mcnab
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nawroz
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D010348:Patient Care Team; D012606:Scotland; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000379:methods*; D019113:Telepathology; D019112:Teleradiology; D049269:Videoconferencing