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Multidisciplinary behavioral treatment of defecation problems: a controlled study in children with anorectal malformations.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The most frequent consequences of being born with an anorectal malformation (ARM) are problems with fecal continence and constipation, which can have various negative implications. In this prospective, controlled study the effect of multidisciplinary behavioral treatment dealing with these problems is evaluated. METHODS: The effect of multidisciplinary behavioral treatment was studied in 24 children (15 boys, 9 girls; mean age 5.8 years). Thirteen children were allocated to the treatment condition. The 11 children allocated to the waiting list control group also were treated after a waiting period of 6 months. Children underwent follow-up after treatment. RESULTS: Compared with a waiting list control group, the experimental treatment group scores significantly better on 2 important measures ("Templeton," "Percentage of feces in toilet"). Although young children had poorer scores than older children before treatment, no significant differences in the favorable outcome of treatment were found between both groups after treatment. No effect of type of ARM on treatment was found either. The results of multidisciplinary behavioral treatment remain stable over a mean follow-up period of 7 months. CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary behavioral treatment is an important and valuable supplement to the standard medical treatment of children born with ARM suffering from chronic defecation problems.

Anal Canal↗

Lessons learned from implementing multidisciplinary health professions educational models in community settings.

This article addresses sustainability elements for multidisciplinary health professions education in communities. The results are based on a 5 year program involving multiple health professions education institutions in seven states within the USA. We offer observations and suggestions to others who plan and implement multidisciplinary programs for health professions educators. Our findings are based on the outcomes of the Community Partnerships in Health Professions Education (CPHPE) initiative funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. Data sources included pre and post surveys of students and faculty, site visits, published evaluations and site reports, and a 2 year follow-up evaluation after the external funding phase. Elements of the partnership that facilitated the sustainability of the models were: leadership, complementary missions, curriculum that mirrors clinical community practice, change from outside in, partnership boards, and faculty development. Those elements that were barriers to sustaining the efforts were: professional identities and territorial boundaries, structural differences, costs, and unclear goals. The multidisciplinary components of the community partnership initiative were the most challenging. However, in most programs, they did succeed and are currently in place. By paying attention to the elements that enhance and detract from teaming, one can plan for more successful multidisciplinary education.

Allied Health Personnel↗

Epoetin alfa protocol and multidisciplinary blood-conservation program for critically ill patients.

PURPOSE: An evidence-based epoetin alfa protocol and a multidisciplinary blood-conservation program were implemented in a medical intensive care unit (MICU) and surgical intensive care unit (SICU). SUMMARY: Baseline data were collected to evaluate the use of epoetin alfa and red blood cell (RBC) transfusions in our MICU and SICU. An evidence-based protocol for epoetin alfa use and a multidisciplinary blood-conservation program were designed, approved, and implemented. Preprotocol patients consisted of a convenience sample of 18 patients receiving epoetin alfa for various indications who were admitted to our MICU and SICU from January 1 to December 31, 2002. The postprotocol sample consisted of 40 patients who received epoetin alfa for the treatment of anemia due to critical illness who were admitted to the MICU and SICU from March 25 to May 23, 2003. Postprotocol data were collected and compared with baseline data. All patients seen in the MICU and SICU, during the postprotocol period, regardless of whether they were receiving epoetin alfa, were included in the multidisciplinary blood-conservation program. Postprotocol data showed statistically significant improvements in epoetin alfa dosing and monitoring and in the use of adjunctive therapy. Pharmacist-initiated blood-conservation strategies resulted in several blood-draw reductions and discontinuations. Statistically significant reductions in the number of RBC units transfused per patient and per intensive care unit (ICU) day were also observed. CONCLUSION: An epoetin alfa protocol and a multidisciplinary blood-conservation program contributed to rational prescribing of epoetin alfa and to a reduction in the number of RBC units transfused per patient and per ICU day.

Anemia↗

Multidisciplinary team care and outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Comprehensive rehabilitation, involving a team of health professionals from various disciplines, is widely used as an adjunct to pharmacological and surgical treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Studies on the effectiveness and costs of such programs, as well as on developments regarding outcome measures and quality improvement in this particular field are reviewed. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent studies confirm that defined day patient multidisciplinary programs are equally effective as inpatient team care programs. It appears that similar effects, at lower costs, may be achieved by clinical nurse specialists coordinating multidisciplinary care in an outpatient setting. With respect to outcome measures on effectiveness of multidisciplinary team care, the use of function-specific and patient-oriented outcome measures is advocated. Moreover, the use of tools and procedures to enhance the role of the patient in the team care process and communication among health professionals may yield important leads for the improvement of the effectiveness and quality of multidisciplinary team care. SUMMARY: Comprehensive inpatient and day patient programs prove to be equally effective in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, while the employment of alternative forms of comprehensive care, such as care coordinated by a clinical nurse specialist, is promising. With respect to future research, challenges are related to the development and selection of adequate outcome measures, the enhancement of mutual communication, and a further definition and extension of the role of the patient in the team care process.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid↗

The effects of multidisciplinary pain management treatment on locus of control and pain beliefs in chronic non-terminal pain.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether chronic pain patients' beliefs and attributions about pain control are amenable to change in a short-term inpatient multidisciplinary pain management program. DESIGN: Non-randomized consecutive sample with prospective, before-after treatment. SETTING: Pain-management, tertiary care center in a major U.S. city. PATIENTS: All adult patients (n = 50) who were treated in an inpatient multidisciplinary pain management center were contrasted with those of a control group of 46 adult patients who were treated in an outpatient pain center. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain Locus of Control Scale, the Pain Beliefs and Perceptions Inventory, subjective pain intensity, and medication usage were measured before and after treatment. RESULTS: Statistically significant posttreatment changes were found for the treatment group, but not the control group. Patients who completed the inpatient pain management program reported significant decreases in subjective pain intensity despite discontinuation of narcotic analgesics. Patients in the treatment group showed an increased sense of personal control over their pain and substantial decreases in attributions of pain control to powerful others and chance. Patients in the treatment group also showed a significant reduction in their endorsement of the belief that their pain was a mysterious phenomenon. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic non-terminal pain patients' beliefs about pain and attributions of pain control are amenable to change in a short-term inpatient multidisciplinary pain management program. These results suggest that an intensive multidisciplinary program involving psychotherapy might be more effective in treating chronic pain patients similar to those in this study than outpatient treatment without psychotherapy.

Adult↗

Outcomes measurement. Multidisciplinary approaches and patient outcomes after stroke.

Synergism is an apt description for the powerful results that can occur when multidisciplinary approaches are used. Studies have documented that multidisciplinary teams produce improved patient outcomes in selected patient groups, including recent studies of patients with strokes. Multidisciplinary teams in patient care are still far from being the normative model of care delivery. In the interest of better patient care and outcomes, it is time for health care professionals to actively engage in multidisciplinary approaches, because the sum of our collaborative efforts is greater than our individual disciplinary parts.

Cerebrovascular Disorders↗

Optometry in the multidisciplinary health care setting.

A variety of health care delivery settings and models have been established in the 1980s. The multidisciplinary setting encourages comanagement and continuity of care, provides convenient consultation and communication, and is cost effective. It stimulates learning, helps to consolidate management strategies, and results in improved quality of care. Therefore, the patient and the provider both benefit from this environment. In 1978, the problem-oriented record keeping system (PORS) was implemented in the eye care service of a Boston neighborhood multidisciplinary health center. It facilitated learning, established guidelines for peer review, and improved patient care by assisting the eye care service to communicate patient problems to the other health center services effectively. We review the background of urban multidisciplinary health care settings and the PORS, as well as present several cases in which optometrists participated in patient comanagement with other health care specialists to develop a comprehensive management plan. The benefits of the multidisciplinary approach to both patients and providers are discussed.

Adult↗

Multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation for neck and shoulder pain among working age adults: a systematic review within the framework of the Cochrane Collaboration Back Review Group.

STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation for neck and shoulder pain among working age adults. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation programs for neck and shoulder pain require substantial staff and financial resources. They are widely used, despite questionable evidence of their effectiveness. METHODS: The reviewed randomized controlled and controlled trials appraising the effectiveness of biopsychosocial rehabilitation for working age patients with neck and shoulder pain were identified by searching electronic bibliographic databases, checking references, and consulting experts in the rehabilitation field. Four blinded reviewers selected the trials. Two specialists on rehabilitation evaluated the clinical relevance. Two other blinded reviewers extracted the data and assessed the main results and the methodologic quality of the studies. A qualitative analysis was performed to evaluate the level of scientific evidence. RESULTS: After 1808 abstracts and the references of 65 reviews were screened, only two relevant studies were found that satisfied the criteria. One of these was considered a methodologically low-quality randomized controlled trial, and the other was a methodologically low-quality controlled clinical trial. The clinical relevance of included studies was satisfactory. The level of scientific evidence for the effectiveness of multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation for neck and shoulder pain was limited. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be little scientific evidence for the effectiveness on neck and shoulder pain of multidisciplinary biopsychosocial rehabilitation compared with other rehabilitation methods. There is an urgent need for high-quality trials in this field.

Adult↗

A novel back school using a multidisciplinary team approach featuring quantitative functional evaluation and therapeutic exercises for patients with chronic low back pain: the Japanese experience in the general setting.

STUDY DESIGN: A prospective cohort study. OBJECTIVES: To introduce a novel back school for the treatment of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP), and to report its clinical results. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although back school is one of the treatment methods for patients with CLBP, its efficacy and appropriate style remain controversial. No studies have been published regarding the combined program of back school with a multidisciplinary team approach. METHODS: A total of 182 patients with CLBP (74 men and 108 women; average age, 43.8 years) participated in this study. All patients were enrolled in the back school using a multidisciplinary team approach featuring quantitative functional evaluation and therapeutic exercises. The following outcome measures were evaluated at the baseline, and 6 and 12 months after the enrollment: the level of pain evaluated with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS), flexibility of trunk and hamstrings (finger-floor distance, straight leg raising), trunk muscle strength and endurance, frequency of therapeutic exercises, and self-reported patient satisfaction. RESULTS: An averaged VAS score was 6.2 before enrollment in the program and 2.8 at follow-up. The pain improved in 141 patients (80.8%), did not change in 27 (15.4%), and was aggravated in 7 (3.8%). There was statistically significant improvement of finger-floor distance, trunk muscle strength, and endurance in the patients whose pain was relieved after enrollment in the program (P < 0.05). The compliance with the exercise program was significantly correlated with the clinical results (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We developed a novel back school using a multidisciplinary team approach, featuring quantitative functional evaluation and therapeutic exercises. The current study demonstrated that our program could provide a satisfactory result for the treatment of patients with CLBP. The quantitative functional evaluation was a worthwhile outcome measure when evaluating the efficacy of the treatment program. Teaching body mechanics and performing the therapeutic exercises through the multidisciplinary team approach are essential to managing CLBP in a general setting.

Adult↗

Does multidisciplinary rehabilitation benefit whiplash recovery?: results of a population-based incidence cohort study.

STUDY DESIGN: Population-based, incidence cohort. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a government policy of funding community and hospital-based fitness training and multidisciplinary rehabilitation for whiplash. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Although insurance benefits commonly include rehabilitation for whiplash, its effectiveness is unknown. METHODS: All Saskatchewan adults treated for whiplash (n = 6,021) over a 2-year period were followed up at 6 weeks, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Recovery was defined by self-report of improvement. Recovery times were compared between those attending fitness training at health clubs (n = 833), multidisciplinary outpatient rehabilitation (n = 468), and multidisciplinary inpatient rehabilitation (n = 135) to those receiving usual insured individual care. RESULTS: Recovery was 32% slower in those receiving fitness training within 69 days of injury (P = 0.001) and 19% slower when received within 119 days of injury (P = 0.041). Recovery was 50% slower in those receiving outpatient rehabilitation within 119 days of injury (P = 0.001). Attending inpatient rehabilitation did not influence recovery rates during the follow up (P = 0.131). Multivariable adjustment for important prognostic factors did not change these results. CONCLUSIONS: We found no evidence to support the effectiveness of a population-based program of fitness training and multidisciplinary rehabilitation for whiplash. Rehabilitation programs should be tested in randomized trials before being recommended to injured populations.

Adult↗

Diabetic foot ulcers in a multidisciplinary setting. An economic analysis of primary healing and healing with amputation.

OBJECTIVES: To perform an economic analysis of primary healing and healing with amputation in diabetic patients with foot ulcers. DESIGN: A retrospective economic analysis based on a prospective study of consecutively presenting diabetic patients admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine because of foot ulcer. SETTING: A multidisciplinary foot-care team. SUBJECTS: A total of 314 consecutively presenting diabetic patients with foot ulcers. Forty patients died before healing occurred. In those patients who healed primarily (n = 197) or after amputation (n = 77), a retrospective economic analysis was performed. INTERVENTIONS: All patients were treated by a multidisciplinary foot care team consisting of diabetologist, orthopaedic surgeon, diabetes nurse, podiatrist and orthotist both as in- and out-patients. The patients were followed by the team from admittance until final outcome, i.e. primary healing or healing with amputation or death. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Data from both the prospectively collected patient material and from patient records were used to estimate the cost for hospital care, antibiotics, surgery, out-patient care, staff attendance, drugs and material for ulcer dressings, and orthopaedic appliances. RESULTS: The total costs were SEK 51,000 (3000-808,000) for patients with primary healing and SEK 344,000 (27,000-992,000) for healing with amputation. Costs for in-patient care were 37% of total average costs for primary healing and 82% for patients with amputation. The costs for topical treatment of the ulcers in out-patient care were 45% of the total average cost for primary healed and 13% for patients who healed with amputation. The costs for products used for ulcer dressings were 21% of total costs for topical treatment, i.e. 9% and 3% of total average costs for primary healing and healing with amputation, respectively. Costs for visits to the foot care team, antibiotics and orthopaedic appliances were low in relation to total costs. CONCLUSION: Treatment of diabetic patients with foot ulcers in a multidisciplinary system was associated with relatively low costs. Healing with amputation was associated with high costs mainly due to multiple and extended hospitalization. These findings indicate the potential cost savings of preventive and multidisciplinary foot care.

Aged↗

Reimbursement and costs of pediatric ambulatory diabetes care by using the resource-based relative value scale: is multidisciplinary care financially viable?

BACKGROUND: The ambulatory care for children with diabetes mellitus (DM) within an endocrinology specialty practice typically includes services provided by a multidisciplinary team. The resource-based relative value scale (RBRVS) is increasingly used to determine payments for ambulatory services in pediatrics. It is not known to what extent resource-based practice expenses and physician work values as allocated through the RBRVS for physician and non-physician practice expenses cover the actual costs of multidisciplinary ambulatory care for children with DM. STUDY SETTING: A pediatric endocrinology and diabetes clinic staffed by faculty physicians and hospital support staff in a children's hospital. METHODS: Data from a faculty practice plan billing records and income and expense reports during the period from 1 July 2000 to 30 June 2001 were used to determine endocrinologist physician ambulatory productivity, revenue collection, and direct expenses (salary, benefits, billing, and professional liability (PLI)). Using the RBRVS, ambulatory care revenue was allocated between physician, PLI, and practice expenses. Applying the activity-based costing (ABC) method, activity logs were used to determine non-physician and facility practice expenses associated with endocrine (ENDO) or diabetes visits. RESULTS: Of the 4735 ambulatory endocrinology visits, 1420 (30%) were for DM care. Physicians generated $866,582 in gross charges. Cash collections of 52% of gross charges provided revenue of $96 per visit. Using the actual Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)-4 codes reported for these services and the RBRVS system, the revenue associated with the 13,007 total relative value units (TRVUs) produced was allocated, with 58% going to cover physician work expenses and 42% to cover non-physician practice salary, facility, and PLI costs. Allocated revenue of $40.60 per visit covered 16 and 31% of non-physician and facility practice expenses per DM and general ENDO visit, respectively. RBRVS payments ($35/RVU) covered 46% of all expenses ($76.74/RVU), including 132% of physician expenses for the time worked in the clinic ($27/RVU), and only 23% of actual incurred practice expenses ($152/TRVU). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical revenues in a pediatric endocrinology practice, allocated by using the RBRVS system, do cover physician expenses for the time spent working in a hospital ENDO and DM clinic, but do not closely approximate non-physician and facility practice expenses while delivering multidisciplinary care to children with DM. Using payment based on the RBRVS system, and without additional payments to compensate for increased practice expenses incurred in the delivery of multidisciplinary care, this care model may not be financially viable.

Ambulatory Care↗

Comparison of face-to-face and videoconferenced multidisciplinary clinical meetings.

A trial of videoconferencing of multidisciplinary breast cancer clinical meetings between three public hospitals was conducted in an attempt to increase attendance by medical staff at the meetings, and thus facilitate multidisciplinary care for breast cancer patients. The videoconferences were compared with the previously existing face-to-face clinical meetings through questionnaires, attendance, number of cases discussed and anthropological analysis. Although more people attended the videoconferences than the face-to-face meetings, most of the participants in the trial preferred the face-to-face meetings to the videoconferences. The mean number of cases discussed at the videoconferences was significantly less than the mean number of cases presented at the face-to-face clinical meetings. The face-to-face meetings were informal, spontaneous and conducive to open discussion. In contrast, the videoconferences were formal and regimented. Multidisciplinary case discussion can be facilitated by videoconferencing. Some of the negative experiences we encountered could be overcome with changes in meeting format. Our experience may help others in setting up a successful multidisciplinary team via videoconference.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Nurse-doctor relationships in multidisciplinary teams: ideal or real?

This paper will examine the paradox of power differentials in multidisciplinary teams. The paper begins by offering multidisciplinary teams as an egalitarian enterprise in which all disciplines are included for their particular expertise in relation to patient care. By reviewing ways in which multidisciplinary teams are constructed it will be shown that in nursing discourse these teams are portrayed rhetorically in an idealized rather than realistic way and that there is clearly a power differential between disciplines. The examination highlights the socialized and stereotypical role adopted by the nurse and other disciplines within multidisciplinary teams, so that they fit the social role/rules allotted to them. Investigation of these roles suggest that masculine ideology has prevailed whereby the doctor assumes (without question) the role of team leader. The paper then moves to suggest dissatisfaction with this and that change is underway.

Female↗

Work-related empowerment of the multidisciplinary team at the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital.

Carried out as part of a staff development project, this study describes the experiences of work-related empowerment within a multidisciplinary team at the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital in Finland. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of background variables and questions concerning verbal, behavioural and outcome empowerment. The questionnaire was sent to all members of the multidisciplinary team at the Rheumatism Foundation Hospital, with the exception of physicians, departmental secretaries and administrative personnel. The response rate was 58%. The data were examined using statistical methods. The multidisciplinary team felt quite strong verbal and behavioural empowerment, but was less confident in terms of outcome empowerment. Several factors were found to be associated with the different fields of empowerment. In conclusion, the multidisciplinary team felt quite strong work-related empowerment.

Adult↗

Multidisciplinary assessment at triage: a new way forward.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a dual doctor and nurse triage system at a tertiary referral hospital. METHODS: Data were compared between periods of multidisciplinary triage and periods of standard triage. Data comparison was also made between rostered multidisciplinary triage shifts and non-multidisciplinary triage shifts. Staff satisfaction with the process was assessed. RESULTS: The percentage of patients seen within Australasian Triage Scale performance indicator thresholds increased from 75% to 81% in Category 2 patients (P = 0.12) and 56% to 78% in Category 3 patients (P < 0.0001). There was a reduction of 50% in the number of patients who left prior to being seen by a doctor (P = 0.024). Surveys showed high staff satisfaction with the process. CONCLUSIONS: We feel that multidisciplinary triage performs a useful function in our department enabling us to reduce waiting times. The process is widely accepted amongst the staff and it ensures a senior doctor assesses most patients. It reduces the number of patients leaving prior to being seen by a doctor and it provides one way of getting around access block and a physically small department.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

A multidisciplinary dental program for community-living adults with chronic mental illness.

Only recently have reports described specialized large-scale dental programs for community-living adults with chronic mental illness. In response to requests from community mental health center case managers, a multidisciplinary team from Central Sydney Area Health Service dentistry, mental health, and transport services joined together to develop a pilot dental program. The aim was to profile the dental needs of community-living clients with chronic mental illness and to improve clients' utilization of inner Sydney public dental services. A review of clients' dental problems and access is presented, together with a description of the pilot program developed by the multidisciplinary team. A profile of the initial dental needs of the participants, and information on the participants' utilization of the pilot dental program is documented. This multidisciplinary approach was successful in developing a program to profile dental needs of clients, and improved the access to public dental services for the majority of clients. There was a subgroup of clients who did not utilize the program, and further follow-up of these clients is needed. This multidisciplinary approach could be useful in the development and funding of other special care dental programs.

Adult↗

The INTERMED: a screening instrument to identify multiple sclerosis patients in need of multidisciplinary treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the value of the INTERMED, a screening instrument to assess case complexity, compared with the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the Guy's Neurological Disability Scale (GNDS) to identify multiple sclerosis (MS) patients in need of multidisciplinary treatment. METHODS: One hundred MS patients underwent INTERMED, EDSS, and GNDS examinations. Patient care needs were assessed by a multidisciplinary team and a goal oriented treatment plan was defined. Correlations between INTERMED, individual INTERMED domains, EDSS, GNDS sum score, and total number of proposed disciplines involved in the treatment plan were studied. RESULTS: Mean (SD) age was 40.6 (10.1) years. Median scores were 14.0 for the INTERMED, 4.0 for the EDSS, and 13.5 for the GNDS sum score. Moderate correlations were found between the INTERMED sum score and EDSS (r=0.59) and GNDS sum score (r=0.60). The number of disciplines as proposed by the multidisciplinary team showed the highest statistically significant correlation with the INTERMED sum score (r=0.41) compared with EDSS (r=0.32) and GNDS sum score (r=0.34). No significant or only weak correlations were found between the psychological domain of the INTERMED and EDSS or GNDS. CONCLUSION: The findings in this study show that there is an additional value of the INTERMED compared with the EDSS and GNDS in identifying MS patients in need of multidisciplinary treatment. The INTERMED domains show the area of the patient's vulnerability and care needs: especially the INTERMED's psychological and social domains may guide the clinician to deal with specific problems that complicate healthcare delivery.

Adult↗