From Guidelines to Practice: Regionalising Oncological Patient Pathways.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Services Research
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Rising cancer incidence and complex care needs strain oncological services, especially in underserved regions.
• Patient pathways are crucial for translating guidelines into structured care but require regional adaptation.
• Effective coordination across healthcare sectors is vital for optimal cancer patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the regional adaptation of guideline-based oncological patient pathways within an intersectoral cancer care network.
• To examine how adapted pathways and an intersectoral tumor board facilitate cross-sectoral coordination for specific cancers.
• To introduce a framework for evaluating pathway implementation and effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive case study methodology.
• Focus on regional adaptation of patient pathways for pancreatic, colorectal, and esophageal cancers.
• Utilized a multi-level evaluation framework assessing pathway conformance, stakeholder views, and feasibility.

Main Results:

• Regional adaptation of patient pathways was successfully implemented within an intersectoral network.
• Adapted pathways and the intersectoral tumor board demonstrated support for cross-sectoral coordination.
• The evaluation framework provided insights into pathway conformance, stakeholder perspectives, and implementation feasibility.

Conclusions:

• Regional adaptation of oncological patient pathways is feasible and supports intersectoral coordination.
• Intersectoral tumor boards play a key role in enhancing collaboration for complex cancer care.
• Adapted pathways serve as a foundation for future digital monitoring of patient journeys, improving cancer care delivery.