Introduction and objectives: Multidisciplinary meetings (MDMs) are considered best practice within oncology to optimise quality of care. However, the absence of patient involvement may limit opportunities to deliver individualised, patient-centred care, despite growing emphasis in clinical practice. We aimed to synthesise and evaluate current literature on the value of patient involvement in cancer MDMs.
Methods: The PRISMA 2020 guidelines were followed. MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, PubMed, and Scopus were searched on 19 March 2023 and 11 February 2025. Empirical publications examining impact of patient involvement in oncology MDMs were included. Standard exclusion criteria applied. Risk of bias used an adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cross-sectional studies.
Results: Of 216 abstracts screened, 12 studies were included and analysed thematically. Studies retrieved were mostly qualitative and heterogenous in outcomes reported. Key themes included implementation, active participation, shared decision-making and overall satisfaction. Patients were frequently accompanied to MDMs. Perceived shared decision-making was limited, partly associated with seating arrangement. Improvements suggested by patients included smaller MDMs, additional healthcare professionals, and preparatory education. Patients valued information about disease and treatment, often satisfied with information provided during MDMs. Participation elicited mixed emotional and psychological responses. There was no significant change in anxiety or depression scores before versus after MDM participation. Patients reported both positive and negative communication experiences, commonly citing difficulty understanding medical jargon. Overall proportions of satisfied patients were high (7.7 and 9.6 out of 10).
Conclusion: Most patients value the benefits of participation in cancer MDMs, despite limitations and some negative experiences. Studies were subject to potential bias due to the qualitative nature of study designs. Further prospective studies evaluating the benefits of patient involvement in MDMs are warranted, particularly for optimal implementation to improve shared decision-making and patient satisfaction whilst maintaining cost-effectiveness.