OBJECTIVES:

To improve the quality of care, multidisciplinary team (MDT) care was implemented in Taiwan. This study examined the relationship between MDT care and emergency department visits for lung cancer patients.

STUDY DESIGN:

A retrospective cohort study with MDT care participants and matched a double number of control group of non-participants was followed.

METHODS:

In this study, 22,817 patients with newly diagnosed lung cancer were recruited from 2005 to 2007 in Taiwan. Matching based on the propensity of receiving MDT care was used. A total of 8172 patients were observed in this study. A c2, ANOVA, logistic regression, and Poisson regression were used to elucidate the effects of MDT care.

RESULTS:

The lung cancer patients participating in MDT had lower risk to visit an emergency department (ED) (OR = 0.89; 95% CI, 0.80-0.98), and the incidence rate ratio decreased by 11% (95% CI, -0.15 to -0.07). Gender, monthly salary, urbanization of the residence area, comorbid conditions, catastrophic illness/injury, treatment method, number of outpatient visits, length of stay, hospital ownership, level of hospital, and the age of the patient's physician were all significantly related to the frequency of ED visits (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS:

The frequency of emergency department visits of patients with MDT care was lower than that of those without it. The patients with MDT received enhanced care.