[Multidisciplinary team meetings : experiences and difficulties of ambulatory care professionals. A qualitative...

Multidisciplinary work is gaining importance with the ageing of the population, an increase in the number of chronically ill patients, and patients' preference for homebased healthcare. Multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTMs) were designed to foster dialogue between care providers of patients with decreasing autonomy. Despite being financed by the Health Insurance, few professionals use it. This study aimed at an exploration of the professionals' reasons for this lack of MDTM. Semi-structured interviews with health and social care providers who had participated in an MDTM were analysed thematically by two researchers working independently. All of the professionals recognised the importance of MDTMs in improving support for patients and their relatives. Each person's presence at the MDTM helped participants to define their scope of action, to become acquainted with one another, and to coordinate their work. Administrative and logistical limitations were cited as obstacles, as was the absence of a multidisciplinary working culture. MDTMs place the patient at the forefront, and allow professionals to meet and agree on a treatment plan. A range of different working practices and cultures challenges the method.