WCLC 2025 - Posters & ePosters-P2.15 .06 Best Practices and Process Variations of Lung Cancer Multi-Disciplinary Teams: Insights From Europe and Israel

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This study investigates the best practices, process variations, and challenges of lung cancer Multidisciplinary Teams (MDTs) across 28 hospitals in 20 European countries and 3 in Israel. Conducted through over 150 semi-structured interviews and self-assessment questionnaires, it evaluates MDT maturity and their perceived impact on patient care pathways, outcomes, and costs. The research identifies significant differences in MDT operation between hospitals and regions, influenced by resources, funding, team composition, technology adoption, and access.<br /><br />Key best practices include ensuring all lung cancer patients have timely access to MDT discussions, implementing rapid diagnostic pathways, utilizing effective electronic medical record systems for data sharing, continuous MDT member training, fostering collaborative and respectful team cultures, and appointing MDT coordinators or nurse navigators to manage patient journeys and communication. Quality assurance via regular audits and performance measurement is also essential.<br /><br />Common gaps include lack of standardized MDT case registration and workflows, limited education opportunities, absence of systematic clinical trial candidate identification, insufficient MDT funding, and lack of recognition for MDT participation as part of clinical responsibilities. The role of nurse navigators, while acknowledged, is often constrained to administrative support.<br /><br />The study calls for national and hospital-level actions to address these gaps, including advocacy for dedicated MDT roles like nurse navigators with proper reimbursement, policy incentives for MDT participation, annual quality assurance meetings, and the development of national MDT improvement frameworks. It highlights the need for enhanced collaboration among hospitals to push for structural, resource, and process improvements.<br /><br />Comparison across regions showed that Europe Wave 1 hospitals generally outperform Central, Eastern Europe & Baltics (CEEBA) and Western, Southern Europe & Israel (WESE) hospitals in MDT maturity, especially in culture, capabilities, and quality assurance, although process maturity is more consistent.<br /><br />Overall, the findings offer actionable insights to optimize lung cancer MDT organization and management, aiming to improve timely decision-making and clinical outcomes at institutional, national, and international levels.

Asset Subtitle

Helena Linardou

Meta Tag

Speaker Helena Linardou

Topic Multidisciplinary Care: Nursing, Allied Health and Palliative Care

Keywords

lung cancer

Multidisciplinary Teams

MDT maturity

patient care pathways

rapid diagnostic pathways

electronic medical records

MDT coordinators

nurse navigators

quality assurance

clinical trial identification