3649 - Understanding Current Processes of Multidisciplinary Collaboration in Radiation Oncology Treatment Planning and Follow-Up across NCORP Network Practices

M. Farris¹, R. T. Hughes², A. C. Snavely³, C. L. Nightingale⁴, E. G. Wood⁴, P. M. Bunch⁵, J. Ponnatapura⁵, A. Goetz², M. D. Mix⁶, E. C. Daugherty⁷, E. McTyre⁸, J. C. Farris⁹, J. Vogel⁹, G. J. Lesser¹⁰, and K. E. Weaver⁴; ¹Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, ²Department of Radiation Oncology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, ³Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, ⁴Department of Social Sciences and Health Policy, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, ⁵Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC, ⁶SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, ⁷Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Cincinnati Cancer Center, Cincinnati, OH, ⁸Prisma Health Radiation Oncology, Greenville, SC, ⁹Department of Radiation Oncology, Bon Secours Health System, Greenville, SC, ¹⁰Department of Hematology and Oncology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston Salem, NC

Purpose/Objective(s): Multidisciplinary collaboration in radiation oncology is important to optimizing patient cancer care in both the pre and post treatment setting. Despite interest in collaboration and potential benefits, many barriers prevent effective and efficient communication, particularly between radiation oncologists (ROs) and radiologists. Materials/

Methods: A one-time survey was distributed to ROs across 42 NCORP regional network through the Wake Forest NCORP Research Base (UG1CA189824) hospitals between January and February 2024. The survey explored the frequency and nature of RO-radiologist collaboration during RT planning, peer review processes, perceived barriers to collaboration, discordance in post treatment imaging interpretation, and interest in interventions to improve multidisciplinary interactions.

Results: Among 28 radiation oncologists from 13 NCORP sites, 64% reported engaging with radiologists for feedback on contoured RT targets in the past year, yet no practices routinely included radiologists in standard pre-treatment chart rounds conferences. Significant barriers to collaboration were identified, including time constraints (43%), workflow disruptions (50%), challenges in sharing imaging comprehensively (61%), and difficulties in discussing target adjustments (39%). When asked “How often do you encounter discordant post treatment imaging interpretation between ROs and radiologists that requires discussion or amendments in the reported findings (the interpreting radiologist does not know that a region of interest was recently treated and interprets post treatment effect as progressive disease or vice versa), only one provider reported 0 cases, while 50% of respondents indicated discordance often (5-9 times per year) or very often (10 or more times per year). Three providers indicated this occurs greater than 30 times per year, while one provider indicated this occurs approximately 100 times per year. A notable 71% expressed high or very high interest in clinical trials aimed at improving collaboration between these two specialties.

Conclusion: There is considerable interest among community ROs for improving current methods of multi-disciplinary collaboration with radiologists during the pre and post treatment setting. Strategies to address common communication barriers have the potential to dramatically enhance cancer care delivery for providers and patients.