Tumor Boards from the Perspective of Ambulant Oncological Care

Cancer therapy requires the cooperation of physicians from different disciplines. At the core of the collaboration are 'tumor boards' (also known as 'multidisciplinary team meetings' and 'tumor conferences'). However, there is limited health care research that addresses the multiple facets of such meetings.

Data were analyzed from 3 routinely conducted surveys comprising information from (i) office-based hematologists and oncologists, (ii) their patients, and (iii) quality indicators.

Most office-based oncologists stated that they participate in tumor boards taking place in hospitals. Although tumor boards are viewed as time intensive and lack financial compensation, they are considered as beneficial for patient care. Less than half of patients knew that their cases were discussed at a tumor board; those who knew rated the collaboration between their treating doctors as more positive, but also experienced slightly higher distress levels. The quality indicators showed that tumor board meetings were documented in three-quarters of the patient charts, but only half included the tumor board's recommendation.

Participation in tumor boards is perceived as beneficial by oncologists and not just considered as a fulfillment of societies' recommendations or guidelines. The higher distress levels in patients who knew that their case was discussed at a tumor board may have occurred because more difficult cases are discussed at tumor boards and since the oncologists spend more time explaining the therapy process in complex cases, including the tumor board results.