Background: Challenges exist in recruitment to trials involving interventions delivered by different clinical specialties.\nCollaboration is required between clinical specialty and research teams. The aim of this study was to explore how\nteamwork influences recruitment to a multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT) involving interventions\ndelivered by different clinical specialties.\nMethods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted in three centres with a purposeful sample of members of\nthe surgical, oncology and research teams recruiting to a feasibility RCT comparing definitive chemoradiotherapy\nwith chemoradiotherapy and surgery for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Interviews explored factors\nknown to influence healthcare team effectiveness and were audio-recorded and thematically analysed. Sampling,\ndata collection and analysis were undertaken iteratively and concurrently.\nResults: Twenty-one interviews were conducted. Factors that influenced how team working impacted upon trial\nrecruitment were centred on: (1) the multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting, (2) leadership of the trial, and (3) the\nrecruitment process. The weekly MDT meeting was reported as central to successful recruitment and formed the\nfocus for creating a ââ?¬Ë?study teamââ?¬â?¢, bringing together clinical and research teams. Shared study leadership positively\ninfluenced healthcare professionalsââ?¬â?¢ willingness to participate. Interviewees perceived their clinical colleagues to\nhave strong treatment preferences which led to scepticism regarding whether the treatments were being\ndescribed to patients in a balanced manner.\nConclusions: This study has highlighted a number of aspects of team functioning that are important for\nrecruitment to RCTs that span different clinical specialties. Understanding these issues will aid the production of\nguidance on team-relevant issues that should be considered in trial management and the development of\ninterventions that will facilitate teamwork and improve recruitment to these challenging RCTs.
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