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

Klay Lamprell; Gaston Arnolda; Geoff P Delaney; Winston Liauw; Jeffrey Braithwaite

doi:10.1111/ajco.13166

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

Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 2019 Aug;15(4):199-207. doi: 10.1111/ajco.13166. Epub 2019 May 21.

Authors

Klay Lamprell¹, Gaston Arnolda¹, Geoff P Delaney^{2

3

4}, Winston Liauw^{5

6

7}, Jeffrey Braithwaite¹

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Healthcare Resilience and Implementation Science, Australian Institute of Health Innovation, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia.
² South West Sydney Local Health District, NSW, Australia.
³ Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.
⁴ University of NSW and Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Cancer Services Stream South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, NSW, Australia.
⁶ Cancer Care Centre St George Hospital, NSW, Australia.
⁷ St George and Sutherland Clinical School, University of New South Wales, NSW, Australia.

PMID: 31115170
DOI: 10.1111/ajco.13166

Abstract

Multidisciplinary 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 real-world 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.

Keywords: cancer; clinical decision-making; resource allocation.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Humans
Medical Oncology / standards*
Neoplasms / therapy*
Patient Care Planning / standards*
Patient Care Team / standards*
Surveys and Questionnaires

Grants and funding

APP1135048/NHMRC