Reducing Chemotherapy Waiting Times in the Ambulatory Setting of a Tertiary Cancer Centre Using a Design Thinking Approach
Introduction: Chemotherapy is complex. We hypothesized that a design thinking approach could redesign preparatory processes and reduce wait times. Methods: A multidisciplinary process mapping exercise was undertaken to understand the current processes, followed by proposing and testing solutions. Pr...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/18/4625 |
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| author | Wei-Ying Jen Zhi Yao Chan Yee Mei Lee Noel Ng Belinda Tan Constance Teo Yuet Peng Wong Cheng Ean Chee Yen-Lin Chee |
| author_facet | Wei-Ying Jen Zhi Yao Chan Yee Mei Lee Noel Ng Belinda Tan Constance Teo Yuet Peng Wong Cheng Ean Chee Yen-Lin Chee |
| author_sort | Wei-Ying Jen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Chemotherapy is complex. We hypothesized that a design thinking approach could redesign preparatory processes and reduce wait times. Methods: A multidisciplinary process mapping exercise was undertaken to understand the current processes, followed by proposing and testing solutions. Proposals were selected based on desirability and feasibility. These focused on starting the morning treatments on time and scheduling pre-made regimens in these slots. The primary outcome measure was the time from the appointment to starting treatment. Treatments in the post-intervention study group were compared against a historical control group. Results: The median time to start morning treatment decreased by 46%, from 83 min (with an interquartile range 50–127) in the control group to 45 min (with an interquartile range of 24–81 min) in the study group (<i>p</i> < 0.001). This translated into an overall improvement for the day, with the median time to start treatment decreasing from 77 min (with an interquartile range of 40–120 min) to 47 min (with an interquartile range of 20–79 min) (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Pre-makes increased by 258%, from 908 (28.5%) to 2340 (71.7%) regimens (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The number of patients starting treatment within an hour of their appointment increased from 1688 (32.8%) to 3355 (62.3%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusion: We have shown that a data-driven, design thinking approach can improve waiting times. This can be adapted to improve other processes in an empathetic, sustainable manner. |
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| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T22:57:38Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-c2aa470bff4449a989bea5232a2cb75f2023-11-19T09:56:25ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942023-09-011518462510.3390/cancers15184625Reducing Chemotherapy Waiting Times in the Ambulatory Setting of a Tertiary Cancer Centre Using a Design Thinking ApproachWei-Ying Jen0Zhi Yao Chan1Yee Mei Lee2Noel Ng3Belinda Tan4Constance Teo5Yuet Peng Wong6Cheng Ean Chee7Yen-Lin Chee8Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute Singapore, Singapore 119074, SingaporeDepartment of Pharmacy, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, SingaporeDivision of Oncology Nursing, National University Cancer Institute Singapore, Singapore 119074, SingaporeOperations and Administration, National University Cancer Institute Singapore, Singapore 119074, SingaporeDivision of Oncology Nursing, National University Cancer Institute Singapore, Singapore 119074, SingaporeDepartment of Pharmacy, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, SingaporeDepartment of Pharmacy, National University Hospital, Singapore 119074, SingaporeDepartment of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute Singapore, Singapore 119074, SingaporeDepartment of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute Singapore, Singapore 119074, SingaporeIntroduction: Chemotherapy is complex. We hypothesized that a design thinking approach could redesign preparatory processes and reduce wait times. Methods: A multidisciplinary process mapping exercise was undertaken to understand the current processes, followed by proposing and testing solutions. Proposals were selected based on desirability and feasibility. These focused on starting the morning treatments on time and scheduling pre-made regimens in these slots. The primary outcome measure was the time from the appointment to starting treatment. Treatments in the post-intervention study group were compared against a historical control group. Results: The median time to start morning treatment decreased by 46%, from 83 min (with an interquartile range 50–127) in the control group to 45 min (with an interquartile range of 24–81 min) in the study group (<i>p</i> < 0.001). This translated into an overall improvement for the day, with the median time to start treatment decreasing from 77 min (with an interquartile range of 40–120 min) to 47 min (with an interquartile range of 20–79 min) (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Pre-makes increased by 258%, from 908 (28.5%) to 2340 (71.7%) regimens (<i>p</i> < 0.001). The number of patients starting treatment within an hour of their appointment increased from 1688 (32.8%) to 3355 (62.3%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Conclusion: We have shown that a data-driven, design thinking approach can improve waiting times. This can be adapted to improve other processes in an empathetic, sustainable manner.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/18/4625design thinkingprocess redesignchemotherapy wait times |
| spellingShingle | Wei-Ying Jen Zhi Yao Chan Yee Mei Lee Noel Ng Belinda Tan Constance Teo Yuet Peng Wong Cheng Ean Chee Yen-Lin Chee Reducing Chemotherapy Waiting Times in the Ambulatory Setting of a Tertiary Cancer Centre Using a Design Thinking Approach Cancers design thinking process redesign chemotherapy wait times |
| title | Reducing Chemotherapy Waiting Times in the Ambulatory Setting of a Tertiary Cancer Centre Using a Design Thinking Approach |
| title_full | Reducing Chemotherapy Waiting Times in the Ambulatory Setting of a Tertiary Cancer Centre Using a Design Thinking Approach |
| title_fullStr | Reducing Chemotherapy Waiting Times in the Ambulatory Setting of a Tertiary Cancer Centre Using a Design Thinking Approach |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reducing Chemotherapy Waiting Times in the Ambulatory Setting of a Tertiary Cancer Centre Using a Design Thinking Approach |
| title_short | Reducing Chemotherapy Waiting Times in the Ambulatory Setting of a Tertiary Cancer Centre Using a Design Thinking Approach |
| title_sort | reducing chemotherapy waiting times in the ambulatory setting of a tertiary cancer centre using a design thinking approach |
| topic | design thinking process redesign chemotherapy wait times |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/18/4625 |
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