Allergy —
Training activity: 9

Details

Present a case for discussion at a multidisciplinary team meeting for a patient with suspected allergy

Type

Developmental training activity (DTA)

Evidence requirements

Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee​.

Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.

An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.

Considerations

• Roles of the different professionals at an allergy multidisciplinary team meeting
• Presenting complex scientific ideas to a mixed audience
• Benefits of multidisciplinary team meeting for the patient and for the staff at the meeting
• Patient centred care and support
• Information expected of a clinical scientist

Reflective practice guidance

The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.

Before action

• Consider how presenting a case at an MDT contributes to your ability to summarise lab services and practice in partnership with other specialists. What specific aspects of presenting an allergy case to an MDT are important to focus on, such as clarity, conciseness? What do you aim to achieve during the MDT discussion in terms of shared understanding and decision-making for the patient?
• Consider the perspectives and information needs of the different specialists who might be present at the MDT meeting. Think about the key points you want to convey and the specific questions you hope to address during the discussion.
• Consider the specific insights you hope to gain from presenting this case to the MDT. Think about what you already know about presenting cases and participating in MDT meetings and how this experience might further develop your communication and collaboration skills.
• Consider possible questions or challenges that might arise during the MDT discussion and prepare potential responses. Identify how you feel about presenting to a multidisciplinary team. Are you confident in your presentation skills and knowledge of the case?

In action

• Pay attention to your actions as you present the case to the multidisciplinary team. How are you structuring your presentation? Why are you highlighting specific aspects of the patient’s history, examination, and investigations? What decisions are you making in real-time during the meeting? Are you adjusting your presentation based on their input? What aspects of presenting this case feel intuitive, and what requires more conscious effort?
• How effective is your presentation in conveying the key information and facilitating a productive discussion? Are the other team members engaged and contributing to the discussion? What challenges are you facing during the meeting? What canyou learn from this multidisciplinary team meeting as it unfolds about collaborative decision-making in allergy diagnosis and management? How does presenting this case connect to your understanding of the role of the laboratory in the wider clinical context?
• Are there alternative ways you could explain your findings or respond to queries if your initial approach is not well-received or understood?  Are you working within your scope of practice by presenting this case and contributing to the discussion?

On action

• Begin by summarising the key aspects of the case you presented at the multidisciplinary team meeting for a patient with suspected allergy. What were the main points you wanted to convey? What were the different perspectives and contributions from the team members?
• What skills or knowledge did you develop or improve through this activity, ? Were there any unexpected questions or insights raised during the discussion? What did you learn from these? In what ways did any reflection-in-action (during the activity) influence how you presented the case or responded to questions?
• What areas for continued development have been identified and what are the next steps? How can you apply the learning from this activity to future multidisciplinary team meetings or other collaborative discussions? IWhat support or resources might you need to further develop in the areas identified, such as observing experienced presenters in MDT meetings?

Beyond action

• Have you had opportunities to present other cases at MDT meetings since this experience? What adjustments did you make to your approach based on your reflections?
• Compare this experience with any experiences or training activities where you observed senior colleagues presenting cases at MDT meetings. What techniques or strategies did they employ that you found effective?
• Recognise how this DTA has contributed to your communication and collaboration skills within a multidisciplinary setting. How has it influenced your confidence in presenting information and engaging in professional discussions?
• How has your ability to synthesise and present information for diverse audiences improved?
• Identify the transferable skills you are developing, such as clear and concise communication, the ability to present a logical argument, and effective teamwork.
• Identify clear actions for continued development in this area, such as seeking feedback on your presentation skills and actively participating in future MDT meetings.

Relevant learning outcomes

#	Outcome
# 3	Outcome Summarise the services provided by immunology laboratories and advise other healthcare professionals on their application in patient management.
# 6	Outcome Practice in partnership with relevant clinical specialisms in the investigation of allergic disease.