Impact of the Multidisciplinary Cancer Team on the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Care Pathway of Early Breast Cancer Patients and Perception of Team Members: The Experience of a Cancer Centre in Italy

Abstract

Literature on the role of multidisciplinary team (MDT) in cancer is still controversial. We aimed to investigate MDT impact on a panel of indicators in breast cancer care in a single-center retrospective study performed in a Cancer Reference Center in Italy. We analysed the diagnostic and therapeutic care pathway (DTCP) of 266 early breast cancer patients managed by our MDT during 2019-2020. Process indicators reflecting the change of the diagnostic and therapeutic care pathways occurred after the MDT discussion were computed. Further, the performance of some quality care indicators in breast cancer care since the establishment of the MDT activity and the breast cancer MDT members’ perceptions were also investigated. According to our study, the MDT approach improves breast cancer management by increasing the completion of staging and by encouraging neo-adjuvant treatment and an appropriate and faster surgery. In MDT members’ perspective it also improves decision-making and training and creates a positive work environment. Globally, our study encourages MDT rollout in breast cancer care. However, to enhance the reliability and comparability of the results of studies investigating MDT effectiveness in clinical practice, shared guidelines on its operationalisation are strongly desirable.

Keywords:

• Cancer multidisciplinary team
• breast cancers
• decision-making
• patient management
• diagnostic and therapeutic care pathways

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the case managers Gina Strozza and Rosanna Ferrara for their work in the cancer multidisciplinary unit and Giovanni Calice – IT specialist. The study is in memory of Dr. Anna Vittoria Lalinga, a brilliant pathologist and member of cancer MDTs of our Institute prematurely passed away in January 2020.

Declaration of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics statement

This work did not require ethical approval under the research guidelines operating at the time of the research.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.