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Abstract BACKGROUND A multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach is essential for quality care, especially in paediatric oncology. In developing countries like Ghana, paediatric neuro-oncology is a relatively young subspecialty and requires a multidisciplinary team approach. The St Jude Global Academy Neuro-Oncology Training Seminar in 2022 saw a significant milestone in this MDT journey. Four MDT members benefited from the training, with a profound impact. This study aims to study the effect of neuro-oncology training on the number of CNS cases reviewed at MDT meetings. METHODS A retrospective review of case announcements made on the Pediatric Oncology MDT WhatsApp group page were collated spanning the period August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023. Tumour distribution of cases discussed at MDT was compared 4 months pre- and 4- and 8-months post-St Jude Global Academy Neuro-Oncology Training Seminar (NOTS) completion in November 2022. A T-test was used to calculate for statistical significance of the difference in the number of cases discussed over the period. RESULTS A total of 208 cases were discussed after 52 MDT Zoom meetings. The number of cases discussed at MDT increased from 40 recorded in the first four months (August -November 2022) to 89 cases in the last four months (April- July 2023). There was a significant increase in the number of CNS cases discussed by 3.9% (p=0.012) at 4 months and 6.6% (p=0.023) at 8 months after NOTS. The complexity of CNS tumours discussed also increased. CONCLUSIONS The St Jude Global NOTS positively influenced the number of CNS cases discussed at MDT. Multidisciplinary team discussions allow for collations of ideas from all specialists with a patient-centred approach which is particularly invaluable to the care of neuro-oncology patients. Further studies on the effect on time of plan implementation, and client satisfaction will be beneficial to evaluate the effectiveness of our MDTs.
Schandorf et al. (Tue,) studied this question.