title: The impact of multidisciplinary team meetings on patient assessment, management and outcomes in oncology settings: A systematic review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Conducting regular multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings requires significant investment of time and finances. It is thus important to assess the empirical benefits of such practice. A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the literature regarding the impact of MDT meetings on patient assessment, management and outcomes in oncology settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant studies were identified by searching OVID MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and EMBASE databases from 1995 to April 2015, using the keywords: multidisciplinary team meeting* OR multidisciplinary discussion* OR multidisciplinary conference* OR case review meeting* OR multidisciplinary care forum* OR multidisciplinary tumour board* OR case conference* OR case discussion* AND oncology OR cancer. Studies were included if they assessed measurable outcomes, and used a comparison group and/or a pre- and post-test design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-seven articles met inclusion criteria. There was limited evidence for improved survival outcomes of patients discussed at MDT meetings. Between 4% and 45% of patients discussed at MDT meetings experienced changes in diagnostic reports following the meeting. Patients discussed at MDT meetings were more likely to receive more accurate and complete pre-operative staging, and neo-adjuvant/adjuvant treatment. Quality of studies was affected by selection bias and the use of historical cohorts impacted study quality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MDT meetings impact upon patient assessment and management practices. However, there was little evidence indicating that MDT meetings resulted in improvements in clinical outcomes. Future research should assess the impact of MDT meetings on patient satisfaction and quality of life, as well as, rates of cross-referral between disciplines.
authors.affiliation: Epworth Prostate Centre, Epworth Healthcare, Richmond, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: brindha.pillay@epworth.org.au.
authors.forename: Brindha
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pillay
authors.affiliation: Epworth Prostate Centre, Epworth Healthcare, Richmond, Victoria, Australia; Department of Urology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Australian Prostate Cancer Research, North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Addie C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Wootten
authors.affiliation: Epworth Prostate Centre, Epworth Healthcare, Richmond, Victoria, Australia; Department of Urology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Crowe
authors.affiliation: Epworth Prostate Centre, Epworth Healthcare, Richmond, Victoria, Australia; Department of Urology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Niall
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Corcoran
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology, Epworth Healthcare, Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bowden
authors.affiliation: Epworth Prostate Centre, Epworth Healthcare, Richmond, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crowe
authors.affiliation: Epworth Prostate Centre, Epworth Healthcare, Richmond, Victoria, Australia; Department of Urology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Australian Prostate Cancer Research, North Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Costello
mesh_terms: D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D019468:Disease Management; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008485:Medical Audit; D008511:Medicine; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cancer; Multidisciplinary team meeting; Patient assessment; Patient management; Patient outcomes