Multidisciplinary team meetings in palliative care: an ethnographic study

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care
• Healthcare Management
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Multidisciplinary team meetings are integral to palliative care delivery.
• The precise purpose and optimal structure of these meetings remain incompletely understood.
• This study examines the operational dynamics and value of palliative care team meetings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the operational model of hospital and community-based palliative care multidisciplinary team meetings.
• To elucidate the core values and benefits derived from these meetings.
• To share examples of effective practices in palliative care team collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Ethnographic observation of over 70 palliative care multidisciplinary team meetings.
• Data collection occurred in hospital and community settings in intercity London.
• Field notes were subjected to thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Analysis of meeting structures, participant engagement, and typical agendas.
• Meetings provided a vital forum for discussing service provision.
• These sessions offered a supportive environment for patients, families, and healthcare professionals.

Conclusions:

• Palliative care meetings fulfill diverse functions beyond clinical and practical matters.
• A significant value lies in collectively acknowledging and processing the emotional aspects of caring for the dying.
• Understanding meeting structures can inform and improve future palliative care practices.