Case Studies in Pediatric Team Science - Abstract
The science-of-team-science is the study of collaborative processes involved in team science initiatives and how these inform and improve team dynamics. Evidence suggests that teams perform more effectively, especially when tackling complex problems, and are more productive over single investigator attempts at scientific endeavors. Collaboration has become necessary for large-scale research centers and complex biomedical issues in order to maximize outcomes and resources and maintain innovation.
We assessed the effectiveness of medical teams by analyzing three case studies: 1) assessing collaboration readiness in a pediatric subspecialty,
2) exploring problem-solving in a surgical perioperative, and 3) exploring leadership readiness amongst a team of pediatricians. Three distinct 10-item questionnaires were distributed to diverse teams representing three pediatric disciplines. The surveys investigated key aspects of team science, and the results were analyzed by three individual investigators. Survey analysis of the collaboration readiness assessment from the pediatric subspecialty group revealed that the majority of respondents valued collaboration and agreed on sharing data and credit for work, 60 % agreed to share leadership, and more than half agreed their institution meaningfully supported collaborative research. Navigation of problem-solving within the surgical perioperative revealed that while members valued the team in concept and in practice, factors such as lack of institutional support and clear administrative leadership led to challenges. Exploration of leadership readiness amongst a team of pediatricians revealed that while there was no designated team leader, being the team leader was only important for less than half of the respondents.
This case study research has demonstrated that a simple survey assessment of collaborative team science principles could potentially enhance team collaborative process. This exercise could be a time and cost-effective step in the construction of medical research teams.