How participants experience and perceive a multi-institutional and multidisciplinary conference after a cancer patient’s death in the home setting in the community : an exploratory study

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to explore participant experiences and perspectives of a multidisciplinary conference held after a cancer patient's death in the home setting under planning by the regional palliative care team. The multidisciplinary conferences studied were held in the community following the deaths of three cancer patients who were cared for at home or in nursing homes and supported by a regional palliative care team. We surveyed a total of 56 participants across the three conferences using a questionnaire comprising demographical questions and free description. We asked for impressions of the conference and perspectives regarding palliative care. The survey drew 48 effective responses (response rate, 87.5%). Content analysis of the participants' descriptions extracted the following issues with the multidisciplinary conferences, categorized under either as availability or problems “mutual understanding through dialogue between multidisciplinary members”, “awareness leading to future practice”, “learning about palliative care”, and “barrier to dialogue between multidisciplinary members”. Highlighted problems surrounding the practice of palliative care with multi-institutional and multidisciplinary members were “conditions for practice in palliative care and care for dying patients” and “multi-institutional and multidisciplinary coordination”. The results indicated that multidisciplinary conferences held with the regional palliative care specialists following a cancer patient's death might be useful to facilitate multidisciplinary coordination and lead to better practice in palliative care in the community.