European journal of cancer care
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Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) · Mar 2018
A longitudinal communication approach in advanced lung cancer: A qualitative study of patients', relatives' and staff's perspectives.
Communication and the care of patients with advanced cancer are a dynamic, interactive and challenging process, often characterised in every day practice by discontinuity and lack of coordination. The objective of this study was to explore the patients' and family-caregivers' needs and preferences regarding communication, quality of life and care over the trajectory of disease. The second aim was to assess health professionals' views on a longitudinally structured, forward-thinking communication approach based on defined milestones. ⋯ Healthcare providers reported the strong need for improvement in communication within the team and between patients and professionals and welcomed the implementation of a longitudinal communication approach. Requirements for the implementation of a longitudinal communication approach include specific communication training with focus on the process that patients and relatives are involved in. Team-building measures and the necessary flexibility to respect individuality in life should be incorporated.
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Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) · Mar 2018
Multidisciplinary work in oncology: Population-based analysis for seven invasive tumours.
The concept of multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTs) in cancer care is endorsed internationally, but its uptake varies considerably. In Belgium, MDT meetings were financially recognised in 2003 to encourage healthcare professionals to join their knowledge and competences to improve the quality and coordination of cancer care. This study aimed to evaluate for seven cancer types diagnosed between 2004 and 2011, the practices of MDT meetings in Belgium by means of population-based administrative databases. ⋯ Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement, for specific cancer types as well as for certain subgroups such as older patients. From the specialists' point of view, reducing the administrative burden and time these meetings demand may entail a greater participation to MDT meetings. Further research is needed to identify the barriers to discuss more patients at MDT meetings and to elucidate the impact of MDT meetings on the quality of cancer care.