Designing Effective Multidisciplinary Team Meetings in the Greek National Health System: Opinions, Obstacles, and Implementation.

INTRODUCTION

The implementation and accessibility of multidisciplinary team meetings (MDTMs), which ensure equal opportunities for health professionals to participate, are fundamental to the functioning of any national health system.

AIM

This study aims to describe the main characteristics of MDTMs and assess the opinions and experiences of healthcare professionals who participated in these meetings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study of health professionals who participated in MDTMs at tertiary referral health centers within the Greek national health system. We employed a simple random sampling methodology, and the questionnaires were completed automatically. The survey was conducted from February to April 2022.

RESULTS

Ninety-eight questionnaires were distributed, and 72 complete responses were returned (response rate: 73.5%). The mean age of respondents was 47.2 ± 7.4 years. Sixty-five participants (90.3%) were specialized doctors, and thirty-nine (54.17%) stated that the time allocated for MDTM sessions was insufficient. Meanwhile, the majority agreed that MDTMs improved patient treatment allocation (n=59, 82%), were beneficial for healthcare professionals' education (n=60, 83.4%), and enhanced the practical and educational skills of medical interns (n=57, 79.2%). Regarding case discussions in MDTMs, participants agreed that comorbidities (n=67, 93.1%), social-psychological factors (n=59, 82%), and patients' preferences (n=62, 86.1%) should always be considered during meetings. The primary challenges in achieving a complete therapeutic plan were identified as inadequate teamwork (n=11, 15.3%), complexity of referred cases (n=9, 12.5%), and time constraints (n=9, 12.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Weaknesses in the healthcare system have emerged, necessitating action to address areas requiring improvement. Differences in the conceptual framework of MDTM functionality, particularly regarding specialists' specific roles and responsibilities, have been observed. Since the Greek national health system lacks specific protocols for the universal implementation of MDTMs, this study underscores the need for structured MDTM protocols in Greece to enhance healthcare professionals' participation and optimize patient care.