Exploring clinical decision-making among the uro-oncology multidisciplinary team: a qualitative study.

Askelin, Blake; Hind, Alicia; Paterson, Catherine

Abstract

The aim of this qualitative study was to understand the clinical decision-making process among the genitourinary oncology (GU) multidisciplinary team (MDT) and how patients are engaged in the process. A qualitative descriptive study design was conducted and has been reported according to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ). Members of the GU MDT were recruited from a metropolitan tertiary hospital and cancer regional center in Australia serving a population of 550,000. Semistructured interviews were conducted, and the audiorecordings were transcribed; an inductive thematic analysis was used to provide insight from multiple perspectives. Three themes emerged: (1) the role and scope of the uro-oncology MDT, (2) lack of person-centered clinical decision-making, and (3) the barriers and facilitators. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the MDT discussions transitioned to virtual application, which was found to be convenient and efficient and improved attendance. The GU cancer MDT had a prominent biomedical focus that lacked person-centered considerations. Additional research is needed to explore how person-centered outcomes can be incorporated into the clinical decision-making process. The GU MDT is increasingly important in the care of uro-oncology patients. There appears to be barriers to the implementation of person-centered discussions in the MDT. The effective delivery of multidisciplinary care is contingent on an appropriate mechanism for collaborative communication between all MDT members and patients given the limited involvement of the patient in the MDT itself.

Citation

ASKELIN, B., HIND, A. and PATERSON, C. 2023. Exploring clinical decision-making among the uro-oncology multidisciplinary team: a qualitative study. Seminars in oncology nursing [online], 39(4), article number 151447. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soncn.2023.151447

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 12, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Aug 8, 2023
• Publication Date: Aug 31, 2023
• Deposit Date: May 19, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 9, 2024
• Journal: Seminars in oncology nursing
• Print ISSN: 0749-2081
• Electronic ISSN: 1878-3449
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 39
• Issue: 4
• Article Number: 151447
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.soncn.2023.151447
• Keywords: Board meeting; Cancer care genitourinary; Multidisciplinary; Person-centered care; Patient referral; Virtual discussion
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/1966344
• Additional Information: This article has been published with separate supporting information. This supporting information has been incorporated into a single file on this repository and can be found at the end of the file associated with this output.