Leveraging a Team Mental Model to Develop a Cancer Anorexia-Cachexia Syndrome Team

Abstract

This article discusses the care of a 62-year-old man with non–small-cell lung cancer and associated cancer anorexia-cachexia syndrome (CACS), and demonstrates common challenges faced by such patients and their family caregivers. The case description illustrates the fragmented approach of various disciplines to the patient’s CACS care, resulting in undertreatment, delayed and burdensome visits, and patient and caregiver frustration and emotional distress. The mounting problems that arise for the patient over time exemplify the absence of a shared mental model among the various providers, patient, and caregiver for the care of CACS. Shared knowledge among providers regarding the tasks to be performed, the other clinicians’ functions, and optimal processes for CACS care was limited. Each provider was responsive to individual symptoms, rather than conceptualizing the constellation of symptoms as a syndrome that warrants coordinated care among clinicians. This resulted in the patient and the family caregiver being at odds with their various providers instead of working in partnership with a shared understanding toward common goals. Team mental models have the potential to enhance development and implementation of care plans and improve patient care and satisfaction by helping clinical care teams establish team membership, identify shared tasks, and facilitate interactions. To help inform ongoing clinical practice and research, this article demonstrates how clinicians at one cancer center are leveraging a team mental model to form and support an interdisciplinary CACS team that provides coordinated patient-centered care.