[Implementation of an oncological care program in a multidisciplinary clinic]

Area of Science:

• Thoracic Oncology
• Clinical Guidelines
• Cancer Care Implementation

Background:

• European guidelines for thoracic oncology lack implementation data.
• Previous studies have not assessed the real-world application of these guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the implementation of European Lung Cancer Working Party guidelines in clinical practice.
• To assess the adherence to multidisciplinary consultation (MDC) and oncology care programs (OCP) in lung cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 354 untreated lung cancer patients' records (2009-2012).
• Analysis of treatment proposals made by MDC and adherence to OCP and guidelines across treatment lines.

Main Results:

• High rates of MDC (88% first line) and OCP adherence (88% first line) were observed.
• Guideline adherence decreased significantly after the first line of treatment (75% first line, 55% second line, 63% third line).
• Reasons for non-compliance included patient/doctor choices and lack of guideline recommendations for specific situations.

Conclusions:

• Multidisciplinary consultation and oncology care programs are widely applied in lung cancer treatment.
• Current guidelines require regular updates to incorporate new treatments and address complex patient scenarios for improved adherence.