Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women. Caring for the cancer patient and family requires a multidimensional approach. Multidimensional Care of the Cancer Patient What does it mean to provide a multidimensional approach? What are some examples of how the care team can meet the patient and the family’s needs? Who are the members of the care team, and how are they involved in providing multidimensional care

Multidimensional Care of the Cancer Patient

A multidimensional approach in comprehensive cancer care is central to improving treatment efficiency and clinical outcomes. Taberna et al. (2020) define the multidimensional approach to cancer care as the cooperation between healthcare professionals with different specialties in cancer management with the overall goal of optimizing treatment efficiency and clinical outcomes. This approach utilizes the fundamental principles of teamwork and collaborative paradigms to synchronize caregivers’ roles with the patients and to unify their goals for the patients. This approach maintains superiority in meeting patients’ demands and improving their experiences.

Meeting patient demands is a critical component of comprehensive cancer management and an essential role for the multidisciplinary team involved in cancer care. MDT can meet their patients’ and patients’ families’ needs through patient education, incorporation into the clinical teams, and information sharing. Information sharing and patient education provide a platform for patients to be better knowledgeable about their disease and how to address aspects of it. It improves patient satisfaction with the care processes, makes them better accountable, and fosters healthier relationships between the patients, their families, and the caregivers.

MDT consists of varied healthcare professionals. Some specialized healthcare professionals involved in cancer management include oncologists, nurses, pathologists, radiologists, pharmacists, and nurses (Winters et al., 2021). These professionals execute their primary roles on the patients. Oncologists provide medical care for patients diagnosed with cancer, while pharmacists provide information on medication due to their expertise in various anticancer medications. Nurses are involved in patient handling and assist in administering medications. On the other hand, pathologists help make cancer diagnoses, while radiologists help determine a suitable imaging modality to be utilized in treatment. Psychiatrists help cancer patients battling mental health illnesses.

References

Taberna, M., Gil Moncayo, F., Jané-Salas, E., Antonio, M., Arribas, L., Vilajosana, E., Peralvez Torres, E., & Mesía, R. (2020). The Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) approach and quality of care. Frontiers in Oncology, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2020.00085

Winters, D. A., Soukup, T., Sevdalis, N., Green, J. S. A., & Lamb, B. W. (2021). The cancer multidisciplinary team meeting: In need of change? History, challenges, and future perspectives. BJU International, 128(3), 271–279. https://doi.org/10.1111/