Establishing the aims, format and function for multidisciplinary team-driven care within an inflammatory bowel disease service: a multicentre qualitative specialist-based consensus study.

OBJECTIVE

To obtain a specialist-based consensus on the aims, format and function for MDT-driven care within an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) service.

DESIGN

This was a prospective, multicentre study using a Delphi formal consensus-building methodology.

SETTING

Participants were recruited nationally across 13 centres from July to August 2014.

PARTICIPANTS

24 participants were included into the Delphi Specialist Consensus Panel. They included six consultant colorectal surgeons, six gastroenterologists, five consultant radiologists, three consultant histopathologists and 4 IBD nurse specialists.

INTERVENTIONS

Panellists ranked items on a Likert scale (1=not important to 5=very important). Items with a median score >3 were considered eligible for inclusion.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Consensus was defined with an IQR ≤1. Consensus on categorical responses was defined by an agreement of >60%.

RESULTS

A consensus on items (median; IQR) that described the aims of the MDT-driven care that were considered included: (5;5-5), (5;5-5), (5;5-5), (5;5-5), (5;5-5) and (5;4-5). A consensus for being a core MDT member was demonstrated for colorectal surgeons (24/24), radiologists (24/24), gastroenterologists (24/24), nurse specialists (24/24), dieticians (14/23), histopathologists (21/23) and coordinators (21/24).

CONCLUSIONS

This study has provided a consensus for proposed aims, overall design, format and function MDT-driven care within an IBD service. This can provide a focus for core members, and aid a contractual recognition to ensure attendance and proactive contribution.