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Tumor board formats: "fascinating case" versus "working conference"
J T Vetto1, K Richert-Boe, M Desler
1Surgical and Medical (KR-B) Services, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Oregon, USA.
Summary
Changing tumor boards from "fascinating case" (FC) to "working conference" (WC) formats significantly increased case presentations and provider satisfaction. The WC format was preferred for improving patient care and protocol enrollment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Medical Education
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Tumor boards are crucial multidisciplinary meetings for cancer case discussion.
- Traditional "fascinating case" (FC) formats may limit case exposure and learning opportunities.
- The Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center transitioned from an FC to a "working conference" (WC) format.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of shifting from an FC to a WC tumor board format.
- To assess provider satisfaction and perceived benefits of the WC format.
Main Methods:
- The study involved a change in tumor board format from FC to WC.
- Quantitative analysis of case presentation frequency before and after the change.
- A survey of regular tumor board participants three years post-implementation.
Main Results:
- Case presentations increased from 11% (1990-1991) to 38% (1992-1993) post-format change (p < 0.001).
- 77% of surveyed participants preferred the WC format over the FC format.
- High satisfaction reported for provider helpfulness (86%), patient care (100%), protocol enrollment (80%), and discussion quality (100%).
Conclusions:
- The WC tumor board format significantly enhanced provider satisfaction compared to the FC format.
- The WC format is associated with improved case discussion quality and perceived benefits for patient care and clinical trial enrollment.