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Barriers to Voice Behavior in Online and Hybrid Multidisciplinary Team Meetings: A Qualitative Study
Karin Kee1, Stephanie M E van der Burgt2,3, Marike L D Broekman4,5
1Department of Organization Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Rationale:
Guidelines for the treatment of a variety of diseases and medical conditions increasingly call for decision-making by a multidisciplinary team, which typically takes place during multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTMs). However, studies examining in-person MDTMs show that the decision-making processes during such meetings often fall short of optimal performance due to participants refraining from exercising voice behavior-denoting the communicative act of sharing one's perspectives, suggestions, and concerns related to the patient's diagnosis and treatment options with fellow participants. The expanding digitalization and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to an increase in online and hybrid meetings, potentially introducing new obstacles to participants' voice behavior.
Aims And Objectives:
The present paper aims to explore the challenges encountered by participants of online and hybrid MDTMs in exercising their voice behavior.
Methods:
Observations of neuro-oncology MDTMs in two Dutch hospitals and interviews with chairpersons and participants of the observed MDTMs.
Results:
Respondents encountered difficulties in expressing their perspectives, ideas, and concerns during online and hybrid meetings, which could be attributed to (1) the absence of non-verbal cues, (2) technological deficiencies, (3) a personal lack of focus, (4) suboptimal layout of the meeting room, and (5) challenges in building relationships with other attendees.
Conclusions:
Obstacles to voice behavior in MDTMs are multifaceted, with specific barriers inherent to online and hybrid meetings that are not present in in-person meetings.
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