Interprofessional Collaboration in Cancer Care: A Perspective on Interventional Oncology Programs

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Healthcare Management
• Interprofessional Education

Background:

• Interprofessional collaboration enhances patient outcomes, goal alignment, and team communication.
• Interventional oncology (IO) is an emerging specialty demanding multidisciplinary integration and effective teamwork.
• High-quality patient care in IO necessitates a coordinated, team-based strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a leadership viewpoint on interprofessional collaboration within cancer care.
• To emphasize the critical role of communication and teamwork in patient-centered interventional oncology programs.
• To explore the integration of interprofessional collaboration in the IO setting.

Main Methods:

• Literature search conducted using CINAHL® Plus database.
• Keywords included "interventional oncology," "interventional oncology nursing," and "interventional oncology programs."
• Associated themes such as "multidisciplinary collaboration" and "tumor boards" were explored.

Main Results:

• Patient treatment options are expanding across multiple disciplines.
• Limited evidence exists on the impact of interprofessional collaboration within IO programs on patient outcomes.
• Clinical IO teams must adopt an interprofessional framework for patient-centered care.

Conclusions:

• Interprofessional collaboration is fundamental for effective interventional oncology practice.
• Further research is needed to establish the impact of collaborative models on patient outcomes in IO.
• Implementing an interprofessional framework is essential for delivering patient-centered care in IO.