Interprofessional communication in the care of adults with cancer: exploring clinicians’ perceptions of team rounding

ABSTRACT

Interprofessional communication (IPC) is important for the inpatient oncology team due to the complexity and acuity of oncology patients. One intervention used to improve IPC is team rounding, yet few researchers have explored experiences of team members with team rounding. In this study, 12 interviews were conducted with providers from five different professions: Nursing Assistant, Registered Nurse, Pharmacist, Advanced Practice Provider, and Physician. We aimed to identify communication barriers and explore providers’ perceptions of team rounding and IPC through semi-structured interviews on the adult inpatient oncology unit. Interviews were coded and conventional content analysis used. Facilitators identified were: effective team communication: (a) including interprofessional stakeholders in rounding and communication; (b) the importance of “real-time” communication; and (c) team dynamics. Barriers identified were: effective team communication: (a) workflow-related issues and (b) team dynamics. Findings from this study indicate each profession had unique perceptions, but all had a positive outlook on the necessity of IPC in the delivery of optimal cancer care.

KEYWORDS:

• Interprofessional communication
• oncology
• qualitative method
• team rounding

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the North Carolina Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill [“We acknowledge the editorial assistance of the NC Translational and Clinical Sciences (NC TraCS) Institute, which is supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health, through Grant Award Number UL1TR002489.”]; Anne Belcher Interprofessional Faculty Scholar in Nursing [We acknowledge the support of Dr. Anne Belcher and her support of the Anne Belcher Interprofessional Faculty Scholar in Nursing.].

Notes on contributors

Ashley Leak Bryant

Ashley Leak Bryant is an Associate Professor in School of Nursing at UNC-CH and Assistant Director for the Cancer Research Training and Career Enhancement Core in the UNC-CH Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Morgan Van Den Eynde

Morgan Van Den Eynde is a Clinical Nurse II at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Mary E. Grewe

Mary E. Grewe is Project Manager and Qualitative Research Specialist at the NC TraCS Institute - Community and Stakeholder Engagement Program (CaSE) which is home of the UNC-Chapel Hill Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program at UNC-CH.

Jennifer T. Alderman

Jennifer T. Alderman is an Associate Professor and Lead Faculty for the BSN Program and Division.

Meg Zomorodi

Meg Zomorodi is Professor in the School of Nursing and Assistant Provost of Interprofessional Education and Practice at UNC-CH

Carol F. Durham

Carol F. Durham is Professor and Director of the Education, Innovation, and Simulation Learning Environment in the SON at UNC-CH.