Aims
Multidisciplinary cancer care to facilitate the provision of patient centred and evidence-based care is considered best practice internationally. In 2016, measures were developed and reported on by all local health districts across NSW to further understand the practices of different multidisciplinary team meetings (MDT). The aim of this study was to identify system level changes and quality improvement activities initiated across the NSW cancer system as a result of reporting on these measures.
Methods
Focus group discussions were used to generate a synergy of ideas from stakeholder respondents regarding the way in which multidisciplinary care and MDT operated, and how the measures were being used. The participants included NSW Cancer Registry Program Managers and Cancer System Innovation Managers. Content analysis was undertaken using Framework Analysis.
Results
Two focus groups were held with a total of 17 participants. Four primary themes emerged: value of electronic documentation; role clarity; relationships; and future development of measures. Some of the key findings included that reporting on the measures expedited the development of electronic documentation and immediate documentation during the MDT. Some challenges that emerged were implementing change in processes and documentation when an MDT sat outside of cancer services governance structures.
Conclusions
This study has identified that the reporting of performance measures has expedited the development of electronic documentation and data extraction from the MDT, identified barriers and facilitators to MDT data collection and supported MDT improvement activities across NSW. The Institute will continue to work with the NSW cancer control system on the development of new measures to continue the development of multidisciplinary care through the use of MDTs state wide, to ensure all people with a cancer diagnosis in NSW have their care overseen by an MDT.