The challenge of putting principles into practice: Resource tensions and real‐world constraints in multidisciplinary oncology team meetings

Abstract

The challenge of putting principles into practice: Resource tensions and real-world constraints in multidisciplinary oncology team meetings. AbstractMultidisciplinary oncology team meetings are crucial hubs for integrated, patient-centered diagnosis and treatment planning. Team meetings are designed to enact the best practice principles of multidisciplinary care. Yet surveys of clinicians and allied health providers who are members of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) identify real-world constraints on putting principles into practice.We review the guidelines for multidisciplinary care set out by Cancer Australia and scope the realworld constraints in enacting each of these guidelines, focusing on the crucial MDT meeting component of multidisciplinary care. We discuss resources and strategies required for compliance. K E Y W O R D Scancer, clinical decision-making, resource allocationAs vital as meetings are to the effective functioning of the model, team members face time, resource and interpersonal constraints that threaten their capacity to attend meetings and to achieve quality decision-making within meetings. 7,8 Surveys of team members identify

<p>Health Professionals’ Views on Key Enabling Factors and Barriers of National Multidisciplinary Team Meetings in Cancer Care: A Qualitative Study</p>

“…10,13 The benefits of professional networks are supported by the CFIR domain outer setting which emphasize the importance of organizations promoting networking and teambuilding since this positively influence implementation by individuals sharing information and visions. 18 Further, it has also been shown that competence -, and network development is particularly relevant for health professional in county hospitals or low volume centres, 8,19 which is supported by this study.…”

“…18 Therefore, promotional interventions can increase commitment and interactive participation. 19,20 Several respondents reported resource constrains and lack of designated time to prepare for and participate in national, virtual MDTMs. These factors are interrelated, and lack of designated time has also in earlier studies been pointed out as a determinant for MDTM attendance.…”

“…These factors are interrelated, and lack of designated time has also in earlier studies been pointed out as a determinant for MDTM attendance. 1,12,[19][20][21][22] The CFIRs domain intervention includes adaption ie, to which degree the intervention can be adjusted to meet local needs, but also emphasize the importance of a balance between fulfilling the implementation and flexibility related to local needs, 18 such as adaption to different working schedules. This emphasize the need of, at an early implementation state, clarify the value of participation in MDTM to motivate health professionals in investing the time and effort needed.…”

Clinical impact of data feedback at lung cancer multidisciplinary team meetings: A mixed methods study

“…MDT organization and structure vary across settings with differences reported in a range of practices, including data management and support. A recent review of MDT resources and practice identified the importance of data collection to effective MDT practice, as well as barriers to successful collection . A recent multisite MDT survey that investigated practical aspects of team meetings identified a lack of timely access to data and irregular conduct of audits to inform practice .…”

Multidisciplinary cancer care in Australia

“…In this edition, Lamprell et al. have explored the constraints associated with putting these principles into practice . Their summary of the literature provides a snapshot of the potential barriers experienced in the Australian health environment for MDTs.…”