Background

Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings are an important element in the management of lung cancer patients in Queensland (Qld). There are seven lung cancer MDTs, based in public facilities in the Central and Southern areas of Qld, who use Qld Oncology Online (QOOL) to support their meetings.  The aim of this project is to measure the rate of MDT review for public non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients diagnosed in 2011 and identify patterns of MDT review by Hospital and Health Service (HHS) of residence.

Methods

Diagnosis and admission data on residents living in Qld Central and Southern areas, diagnosed with NSCLC in 2011 were derived from the Queensland Oncology Repository, Queensland Cancer Control Analysis Team. Patients were divided into public and non-public groups based on the hospital type of the admission closest to the date of cancer diagnosis.  Public patient rates of MDT review were compared across HHS of residence.

Results

There were 1,281 patients diagnosed with NSCLC in 2011.  Of these patients 859 (67%) were classified as public patients and 422 (33%) non-public patients. For the public group 700 (81%) were reviewed by a MDT. MDT review by HHS of residence ranged between 45% and 93% with the median rate 80%.

Conclusion

It is commendable that 81% of NSCLC public patients are being reviewed at MDT. Further investigation is required to understand factors that contribute to the variation of MDT review across HHS of residence, as the greatest variation is in rural areas.