Do Yeun Kim
Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital, Korea
Title: Searching the way for incorporating multicisciplinary team to clinical practice for cancer patients in Korea
Biography
Biography: Do Yeun Kim
Abstract
Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the current operation of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) to cancer patients and to facilitate to better cancer care in Korea.
Materials and Methods: Questionnaire dealing with meeting frequency, pattern of care, impacting factors to inactivate or facilitate of MDT, and responder’s opinion was given to a director of medical oncologist departments of university hospitals. The questionnaire was then sent via online from Korean Association of Clinical Oncology (KACO).
Result: A total of 32 of 91 individuals (35.2%) who were sent the survey completed. Among them, 62.5% (20/32) replied their institutions operate MDT, while all responders thought that MDT is necessary clinical practice to cancer patients. Sixty percent of institutions which operate MDT, the meeting frequency was below twice/a week and the major cancer type by decision via MDT was head and neck cancer (60%;12/20), breast cancer (55%;11/20), and colorectal cancer (55%;11/20). Responder’s view toward the appropriateness for operating MDT of each institution was partially positive (65%;13/20). The major reasons of not showing attention to MDT were difficulty for scheduling time between multidisciplinary specialists at the same time, absence for any authority among specialists, and too much allocated time to MDT. While, top three suggestions for activation of MDT were respect for practice authority among different specialty, positive recognition for MDT, and raising the current cost of reimbursement.
Conclusions: Our finding showed that more effective health care policy should be applied to incorporate multidisciplinary team to clinical practice for better cancer care in Korea.