Evaluating A Multidisciplinary Cancer Conference Checklist: Practice Versus Perceptions.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Clinical Practice Improvement
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Multidisciplinary cancer conferences (MCCs) are crucial for optimizing treatment in young women with breast cancer (YWBC).
• Barriers to MCC practice, including variable attendance and referral patterns, have been identified.
• A checklist intervention was developed to address these barriers and enhance MCC practice for YWBC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop, pilot, and evaluate a novel MCC checklist for YWBC.
• To assess the checklist's impact on MCC processes, presentation rates, and clinical practice.
• To identify gaps in current MCC practices for YWBC.

Main Methods:

• The MCC checklist was developed and evaluated within the pan-Canadian RUBY study.
• A survey assessed checklist implementation, perceived impacts, and MCC processes.
• Checklist data were analyzed for uptake, presentation rates, and treatment changes.

Main Results:

• The checklist was adopted by approximately 50% of participating sites, primarily for data management.
• Checklist data indicated only 31% of YWBC patients were presented at MCC, with 41% receiving treatment change recommendations.
• While some providers felt MCCs were sufficient without the checklist, data suggested otherwise.

Conclusions:

• Despite limited uptake, the MCC checklist demonstrated clinical practice benefits and aided data quality monitoring.
• Checklist data revealed significant gaps in MCC presentation rates for YWBC, contrasting with provider perceptions.
• Enhanced support for MCCs, including national guidelines and audit feedback, is recommended, with checklists potentially playing a supportive role.