Multispecialty sessions model for comprehensive care and decision-making in cancer patients

The management of the oncology patient is complex, due to late diagnosis, treatment and costs, affecting the medical, psychological, nutritional and economic areas. The creation of a multispecialty team, with specialists from health and other fields, is the characteristic of the institute. Since 1920, multidisciplinary has evolved and stood out in developed countries; in Mexico and continues to grow. Although it presents challenges, such as lack of time and coordination, its implementation significantly improves the comprehensive approach to patients.

A retrospective study conducted at the Instituto Oncológico Nacional (ION) in Guadalajara, Mexico, was conducted from April 2019 to December 2023, involving multispecialty sessions via Zoom for oncology patients. Information were collected from medical records with specific inclusion criteria, for the creation of a database in Excel and subsequent analysis with the IBM SPSS Statistics 22 tool.

93.09% of the patients were placed in a specialised unit, while 6.91% in 'other tumours'. 37.2% of the sessions were held to establish treatment, 32% for diagnosis and 30.8% for both. The breast tumour unit had the most sessions (15%) and the robotic surgery unit had the least sessions (0.8%). 74.9% of the cases required one session and 25.1% required more sessions. An average saving of 5 consultations were generated; 68.8% of the sessions met their objectives and were followed up.

Multispecialty virtual sessions in ION generate significant benefits: they reduce waiting times, save resources, improve access to specialised units and a comprehensive approach. Success is due to team coordination, communication between specialists and patients and implementation of decision making. It is recommended to promote this approach to optimise clinical outcomes and quality of life, overcoming logistical barriers and evaluating its long-term impact.