Multidisciplinary work in oncology: Population-based analysis for seven invasive tumours
Menée en Belgique, cette étude analyse les pratiques relatives à l'organisation et à la tenue de réunions de concertation pluridisciplinaire pour la prise en charge des patients atteints d'un cancer diagnostiqué entre 2004 et 2011 (7 types de cancers étudiés) et évalue l'effet de ces réunions sur la qualité des soins
The concept of multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs) in cancer care is endorsed internationally, but its uptake varies considerably. In Belgium, MDT meetings were financially recognised in 2003 to encourage healthcare professionals to join their knowledge and competences to improve the quality and coordination of cancer care. This study aimed to evaluate for seven cancer types diagnosed between 2004 and 2011, the practices of MDT meetings in Belgium by means of population-based administrative databases. Results show a clear increase over time in the proportion of individual patients discussed at MDT meetings. Although this evolution may be partly explained by the legal implementation of several financial initiatives to stimulate MDT meetings, it also suggests an increase in specialists’ awareness of the importance of such meetings. Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement, for specific cancer types as well as for certain subgroups such as older patients. From the specialists’ point of view, reducing the administrative burden and time these meetings demand may entail a greater participation to MDT meetings. Further research is needed to identify the barriers to discuss more patients at MDT meetings and to elucidate the impact of MDT meetings on the quality of cancer care.