Improving the working lives of UK colorectal cancer teams: an evaluation of the Pelican team-based training programme
Cath Taylor
Adamson Centre for Mental Health, St Thomas’ Hospital, UK
Introduction
The impact of the Pelican Foundation clinical skills training programme on the working lives of colorectal cancer teams was assessed. This knowledge-based programme aimed to improve survival by training all UK colorectal cancer teams in best practice in the management of colorectal cancer.
Method
A pre-post test design was employed whereby team members completed self report questionnaires on job stress, job satisfaction (study specific measures) and team performance (Aston Team Performance Inventory) prior to, and 6-8 weeks after attending the programme.
Results
All 75 teams (11 courses) in the final year of the programme were assessed. 485/568 (85%) delegates responded to the pre-course survey and 367/568 (65%) to the post-course. For all professional groups, having good relationships with patients, providing good quality patient care and providing better care from working in MDTs were the predominant sources of job satisfaction. Feeling overloaded with work and dealing with angry or blaming patients and relatives were the predominant sources of job stress. There were significant differences in levels of job stress and satisfaction between the professional groups. Surgeons and clinical nurse specialists reported the highest levels of both job stress and job satisfaction. MDT coordinators reported the lowest levels of both job stress and job satisfaction. There was a small but significant decrease in both job stress and satisfaction following attendance at the course for all professional groups. Team performance improved to a small extent.
Interpretation
The programme appears to have had an important but small and mixed impact on the working lives of colorectal cancer team members. This may reflect the increase in clinical knowledge and raised awareness of team-working issues that the programme conferred, coupled with an insufficient opportunity to address those issues. Tackling the challenges of team-working and enhancing team-working skills may go further to improve the working lives of cancer MDT members.
