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Understanding team dynamics to promote team building in a radiotherapy department

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 September 2020

Krista Dawdy Open the ORCID record for Krista Dawdy [Opens in a new window] ,
Merrylee McGuffin  and
Colette Fegan
Krista Dawdy*
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Merrylee McGuffin
Affiliation:
Department of Radiation Oncology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
Colette Fegan
Affiliation:
Department of Allied Health Professions, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Krista Dawdy, Odette Cancer Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ONM4N 3M5, Canada. Tel: +1 416 480 6104. E-mail: Krista.dawdy@sunnybrook.ca
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Abstract

Background:

Teamwork is a central framework in healthcare delivery. Team dynamics can impact the team as a whole and has been identified within the literature as a contributory factor to quality and safety, patient satisfaction, staff satisfaction and overall performance. Within radiation therapy (RT), teamwork is essential in the delivery of high-quality care, yet team building and team development is under-reported.

Aim:

The focus of this research is to form a better understanding of what plays an impact on teams in a large urban RT cancer centre and how to better engage staff to work together, improve team dynamics and promote team building.

Materials and Methods:

An electronic search of the literature was conducted to better inform debate and aid in the development of team-building sessions in a busy radiotherapy department. Abstracts were screened and relevant articles selected if they met the search criteria that included relevancy related to team building, contributory factors on team dynamics, team-based learning, team performance and implication of civility.

Results:

A total of 45 articles were included in the final analysis. The majority were from the disciplines of medicine (45%), business (22%) and nursing (18%). Only 3 of the 45 articles (7%) focused on the profession of RT. Most articles discussed more than 1 theme with team dynamics and team building being the most common themes discussed in 16 articles each (36%). Other common themes included teamwork (31%), respect and civility (20%), leadership and hierarchy (11%), medical errors (11%) and team training (11%). Only 3 of the 45 articles (7%) focused on RT.

Conclusion:

There is a lack of longitudinal evidence to support the impact of team building sessions to improve team dynamics and promote a positive, cohesive team environment. Specifically within RT, the impact team building has on team dynamics has been under investigation.

Highlights:

High-quality patient care can be linked to team collaboration and cohesiveness. Changing the culture within a team and engaging in civility and respect in everyday practice has the potential to improve team dynamics, patient safety, staff and patient satisfaction.

Keywords

cultureradiation therapystaff satisfactionteam buildingteam dynamics
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice , Volume 21 , Issue 1 , March 2022 , pp. 45 - 50
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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