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Barriers And Challenges Of Multidisciplinary Teams In Oncology Management: A Scoping Review Protocol

Law NLW 1 , Hong LW 2 , Tan SSN 2 , Foo CJ 3 , Lee D 3 , Voon PJ 3

Affiliations 

  • 1 Department of Radiotherapy, Oncology and Palliative Care, Sarawak General Hospital, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Hospital, 93586, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia nicholasllw77@gmail.com
  • 2 Clinical Research Centre, Sarawak General Hospital, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Hospital, 93586, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • 3 Department of Radiotherapy, Oncology and Palliative Care, Sarawak General Hospital, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Jalan Hospital, 93586, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
BMJ Open, 2024 Feb 10;14(2):e079559.
PMID: 38341218 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079559

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are integral to oncology management, involving specialised healthcare professionals who collaborate to develop individualised treatment plans for patients. However, as cancer care grows more complex, MDTs must continually adapt to better address patient needs. This scoping review will explore barriers and challenges MDTs have encountered in the past decade; and propose strategies for optimising their utilisation to overcome these obstacles and improve patient care.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The scoping review will follow Arksey and O'Malley's framework and begin with a literature search using keywords in electronic databases such as PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and PsychINFO, covering the period from January 2013 to December 2022 and limited to English language publications. Four independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts based on predefined inclusion criteria, followed by full-text review of selected titles. Relevant references cited in the publications will also be examined. A Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses flow diagram will be utilised to illustrate the methodology. Data from selected publications will be extracted, analysed, and categorised for further analysis.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The results of the scoping review will provide a comprehensive overview of the barriers and challenges encountered by oncology MDTs over the past decade. These findings will contribute to the existing literature and provide insights into areas that require improvement in the functioning of MDTs in oncology management. The results will be disseminated through publication in a scientific journal, which will help to share the findings with the wider healthcare community and facilitate further research and discussion in this field.

TRIAL REGISTRATION DETAILS: The protocol for this scoping review is registered with Open Science Framework, available at DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/R3Y8U.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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