title: Evaluation of the impact of interdisciplinarity in cancer care.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Teamwork 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
  This 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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This 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.
authors.affiliation: Charles LeMoyne Hospital Research Center, Greenfield Park, Québec, Canada. dominique.tremblay2@usherbrooke.ca
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tremblay
authors.forename: Danièle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roberge
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cazale
authors.forename: Nassera
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Touati
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maunsell
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Latreille
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lemaire
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D011792:Quebec; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace