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Determinants of variable resource use for multidisciplinary team meetings in cancer care

Alexandersson, Nathalie ; Rosell, Linn LU orcid ; Wihl, Jessica ; Ohlsson, Björn LU ; Steen Carlsson, Katarina LU orcid and Nilbert, Mef LU (2018) In Acta Oncologica 57(5). p.675-680
Abstract

Background: Multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTMs) have developed into standard of care to provide expert opinion and to grant evidence-based recommendations on diagnostics and treatment of cancer. Though MDTMs are associated with a range of benefits, a growing number of cases, complex case discussion and an increasing number of participants raise questions on cost versus benefit. We aimed to determine cost of MDTMs and to define determinants hereof based on observations in Swedish cancer care. Methods: Data were collected through observations of 50 MDTMs and from questionnaire data from 206 health professionals that participated in these meetings. Results: The MDTMs lasted mean 0.88 h and managed mean 12.6 cases with mean 4.2 min per... (More)

Background: Multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTMs) have developed into standard of care to provide expert opinion and to grant evidence-based recommendations on diagnostics and treatment of cancer. Though MDTMs are associated with a range of benefits, a growing number of cases, complex case discussion and an increasing number of participants raise questions on cost versus benefit. We aimed to determine cost of MDTMs and to define determinants hereof based on observations in Swedish cancer care. Methods: Data were collected through observations of 50 MDTMs and from questionnaire data from 206 health professionals that participated in these meetings. Results: The MDTMs lasted mean 0.88 h and managed mean 12.6 cases with mean 4.2 min per case. Participants were mean 8.2 physicians and 2.9 nurses/other health professionals. Besides the number of cases discussed, meeting duration was also influenced by cancer diagnosis, hospital type and use of video facilities. When preparatory work, participation and post-MDTM work were considered, physicians spent mean 4.1 h per meeting. The cost per case discussion was mean 212 (range 91–595) EUR and the cost per MDTM was mean 2675 (range 1439–4070) EUR. Conclusions: We identify considerable variability in resource use for MDTMs in cancer care and demonstrate that 84% of the total cost is derived from physician time. The variability demonstrated underscores the need for regular and structured evaluations to ensure cost effective MDTM services.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Acta Oncologica
volume
57
issue
5
pages
675 - 680
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • pmid:29199517
  • scopus:85036569493
ISSN
0284-186X
DOI
10.1080/0284186X.2017.1400682
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f513f213-e4a3-4605-b1ec-4fd5ee508346
date added to LUP
2017-12-18 09:07:46
date last changed
2024-02-13 14:05:47
@article{f513f213-e4a3-4605-b1ec-4fd5ee508346,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTMs) have developed into standard of care to provide expert opinion and to grant evidence-based recommendations on diagnostics and treatment of cancer. Though MDTMs are associated with a range of benefits, a growing number of cases, complex case discussion and an increasing number of participants raise questions on cost versus benefit. We aimed to determine cost of MDTMs and to define determinants hereof based on observations in Swedish cancer care. Methods: Data were collected through observations of 50 MDTMs and from questionnaire data from 206 health professionals that participated in these meetings. Results: The MDTMs lasted mean 0.88 h and managed mean 12.6 cases with mean 4.2 min per case. Participants were mean 8.2 physicians and 2.9 nurses/other health professionals. Besides the number of cases discussed, meeting duration was also influenced by cancer diagnosis, hospital type and use of video facilities. When preparatory work, participation and post-MDTM work were considered, physicians spent mean 4.1 h per meeting. The cost per case discussion was mean 212 (range 91–595) EUR and the cost per MDTM was mean 2675 (range 1439–4070) EUR. Conclusions: We identify considerable variability in resource use for MDTMs in cancer care and demonstrate that 84% of the total cost is derived from physician time. The variability demonstrated underscores the need for regular and structured evaluations to ensure cost effective MDTM services.</p>}},
  author       = {{Alexandersson, Nathalie and Rosell, Linn and Wihl, Jessica and Ohlsson, Björn and Steen Carlsson, Katarina and Nilbert, Mef}},
  issn         = {{0284-186X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{675--680}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Acta Oncologica}},
  title        = {{Determinants of variable resource use for multidisciplinary team meetings in cancer care}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0284186X.2017.1400682}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/0284186X.2017.1400682}},
  volume       = {{57}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}