Perioperative Interprofessional Communication Between Urology and Palliative Care: A Qualitative Analysis

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Palliative Care
• Interdisciplinary Healthcare

Background:

• Serious illness care necessitates interdisciplinary expertise, particularly in the urologic perioperative period.
• Collaboration between urologists and Palliative Care (PC) is crucial for optimal patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify strategies for enhancing perioperative coordination between urologists and PC providers in urologic serious illness.
• To understand challenges and facilitators of interdisciplinary communication in this setting.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative content analysis of 96 communication examples from 38 interviews with urologists, PC physicians, and clinical team members.
• Two-phase study involving provider interviews and subsequent communication analysis.

Main Results:

• Logistical challenges (e.g., surgeon availability, meeting coordination) hinder effective urology-PC collaboration.
• Hierarchical team structures can impede open dialogue, with non-surgeons sometimes hesitant to contribute.
• Bidirectional, timely communication and mutual respect are key to improving alignment and collaboration.

Conclusions:

• Systemic changes are needed to support accessibility, respect, and communication in interdisciplinary urologic care.
• Future research should focus on developing and implementing evidence-based interventions to improve urology-PC collaboration.