Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2022 Dec;65(12):806-812. 10.3342/kjorl-hns.2022.00976.

Introduction of Multidisciplinary Team Approach for Head and Neck Cancer: Patient Satisfaction

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
  • 2Department of Radiation Oncology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
  • 3Department of Nuclear Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
  • 4Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
  • 5Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
  • 6Department of Oncology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
  • 7Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea
  • 8Cancer Center, Hanyang University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Background and Objectives
The head and neck multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach plays a crucial role in bringing together the ideas of various medical professionals. This study aimed to evaluate the early characteristics of the MDT approach for head and neck cancer and analyzed patients’ satisfaction.
Subjects and Method
We analyzed 450 head and neck cancer patients who received MDT care from August 2014 to June 2022. Patient satisfaction with MDT care was evaluated by selfadministered questionnaires consisting of 9 questions.
Results
Of 450, 298 (66.2%) were male and 152 (33.8%) were female. The mean age was 60.8±14.7 year. The most common primary site was the larynx (17.3%), followed by the oral cavity and oropharynx. A total of 726 cases of the MDT approach were performed in 266 MDT sessions, and the mean number of patients per MDT session was 2.74. The number of medical professionals participating in MDT ranged from a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 9, with a mean of 5.11. The mean running time of MDT meetings per case was 19.51 minutes. The time of the 2nd MDT was significantly shorter than that of the 1st or 3rd MDT. The mean score was close to very satisfactory in each of the 9 patient satisfaction questions.
Conclusion
We believe that the MDT approach is feasible and recommend its introduction for the treatment of head and neck cancer as most patients have shown very high satisfaction. Further studies on the role and efficacy of MDT care for head and neck cancer are necessary.

Keyword

Head and neck cancer; Multidisciplinary communications; Satisfaction; Thyroid cancer
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