However, the empirical evidence supporting
such teams is not all positive. A
recent meta-analysis, providing the most
systematic analysis of available evidence
to date, found that the palliative care
team approach, after accounting for the
composition of the team, patient diagnosis,
country of study and study design,
resulted in benefits in the relief of pain
and other symptoms. However, there
were no significant effects for patient
satisfaction or therapeutic interventions
(Higginson et al, 2003). As such, the
assumption that interdisciplinary teams
inevitably lead to greater patient satisfaction
than in non-palliative care settings
is challenged (Hermsen and Ten Have,
2005) and the need for evidence that
such teams are necessary is highlighted
(Zwarenstein and Reeves, 2000).