Table 3 Multidisciplinary teams
Author, number of studies | Quality score | Focus | Main results |
|---|---|---|---|
Hearn 1998 N = 5 | 5 | Palliative care teams in advanced cancer | Improved patient and carer satisfaction (PSI 4/5 = 80%). Improved pain and symptom control (PSI 80%). Reduced hospital stay and overall costs (PSI 4/5 = 80%). |
Mitchell 2002 N = 7 | 6 | Arrangements that linked family physicians to specialist practitioners | Improved clinical behavior (PSI 4/4 = 100%). Cost savings (PSI 1/2 = 50%). No change in: health outcomes. |
Philbin 1999 N = 2 | 4 | Multidisciplinary teams for patients with congestive heart failure | Improved quality of life (PSI 1/2 = 50%). Reduced use of medical care (PSI 1/2 = 50%). |
Vliet Vlieland 1997 N = 15 | 4 | Multidisciplinary teams caring for rheumatoid arthritis | Inpatient teams versus usual outpatient care: improved short-term disease activity (PSI 4/4 = 100%), increased costs (2/2 = 100%). Outpatient teams versus usual outpatient care: improved disease outcomes (PSI 2/5 = 40%). |
Zwarenstein 2000 N = 2 | 7 | Interventions to promote collaboration between nurses and doctors | Reduced hospital stay (PSI 1/2 = 50%). No change in: mortality. |