"The impact of structure on the performance of Multidisciplinary Team Meetings within healthcare networks"

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2024-06-26
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en
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This study aimed to diagnose the structural factors affecting the effectiveness of Multidisciplinary Team Meetings (MDTMs) within the Breast Cancer network East of the Netherlands, using the socio-technical theory by De Sitter (1994) on adequate structures. Therefore, this study applied the socio-technical theories on organizational performance to a network level, adding on to the more descriptive literature on structural determinants for network effectiveness from social-network theory. Through qualitative methods, including semi-structured interviews and document analysis, the study compared the desired structure of MDTMs with their actual structure to identify a potential gap, and investigate whether the current issues within MDTMs relate to the structuring of these meetings. Findings revealed that both the Breast Cancer network and the ARTZ network (together forming the Breast Cancer network East of the Netherlands), despite their different levels of formal establishment, achieved their primary goal of providing optimal, personalized treatment plans for patients. The study identified that maintaining low values in structural parameters such as functional concentration, differentiation, specialization, and separation of tasks positively influenced MDTM effectiveness. The results generate practical implications, suggesting smaller, self-autonomous networks to optimize MDTM effectiveness. Theoretical implications highlight the utility of socio-technical theory in analysing network-level structures.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen