The need for adequate communication training programs for palliative care in multidisciplinary teams in oncology settings Horlait M1, Van Belle S2, Leys M1 1 Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Department of Public Health - Organisation, Policy and Social Inequalities in Health Care (OPIH), Brussels, Belgium 2 Ghent University Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Ghent, Belgium Introduction Multidisciplinary care teams (MDT) consist of different types of health care professionals with different professional backgrounds and experience levels In Belgium, this multidisciplinary approach is mandatory in cancer care The complexity of cancer care requires the integration of the tasks and roles of different professionals Even more specific challenges arise when palliative care has to discussed with the patient Effective and supportive communication can assist the patient and his or her family in navigating a successful transition to palliative care Palliative care needs to be introduced early in the disease trajectory Scope Adequate and effective communication both within the team as well as with the patients to introduce palliative care poses particular challenges Methods Exploratory qualitative multi-method study: Open, face-to-face interviews: 15 certified medical oncologists from both academic and non-academic medical oncology departments in Flanders 9 medical oncology trainees Comparative document analysis the ESMO/ASCO recommendations for medical oncology education programs the guidelines for the Flanders medical oncology education program Results Results Guidelines recommend that trainees should be able to communicate adequately and effectively about palliative care with other members of the care team and with patients it is not specified how these competencies should be trained Interviews there is a raising awareness of the importance of communication training in medical education specific communication training for oncology and palliative care is lacking the responsibility to discuss palliative care with the patient is fragmented among the different members of the MDT the wide range of professionals in the MDT with different professional backgrounds, increase the risk for poor coordination and miscommunication Conclusions In general the education of medical oncologists lacks training to develop adequate and effective communication skills to introduce palliative care in a timely manner The MDT approach needs to tackle cultural differences between professionals and incorporate an integrated team approach to enhance communication skills within the team as well as with patients Education systems and the (department) management level needs to enhance strategies to improve communication competencies, adapted to the profiles and needs of the different members of a MDT Contact: mhorlait@vub.ac.be