Multidisciplinary cancer conferences: identifying opportunities to promote implementation

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Healthcare Management
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Multimodal therapy is standard in complex cancer care.
• Multidisciplinary cancer conferences (MCCs) facilitate prospective patient discussion and treatment planning.
• MCCs are believed to enhance patient outcomes and are widely adopted internationally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of MCCs in Ontario.
• To identify individual and organizational barriers to MCC adoption in Ontario.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional mailed questionnaire survey was distributed to general surgeons in Ontario, Canada.
• The survey assessed MCC prevalence, and organizational and individual barriers to implementation.
• Responses were analyzed overall, by hospital type, and by academic status.

Main Results:

• The response rate was 44.2% (170/385).
• Of 57 hospitals, 29 (52%) reported having MCCs, including all 7 academic hospitals and 44% of community hospitals.
• Surgeons perceived MCCs as beneficial for incorporating multidisciplinary input, improving collegiality, and professional development, though few had coordinators and community hospitals had less frequent meetings.

Conclusions:

• Despite perceived benefits, administrative support for MCCs appears minimal.
• Surgeons in community hospitals may have limited access to multidisciplinary patient care planning.
• Further research is needed to address barriers and enablers for MCC establishment and maintenance, particularly in community settings.