Opinions of Turkish Physicians About the Participation of Patients and/or Patient Caregivers in Multidisciplinary Tumor Boards; A Survey Study From Tertiary Center in Konya

Abstract

Abstract Objective: Multidiscplinary management is very important component of treatment of cancer. Multidisciplinary tumor boards (MB) provide the chance for shared-decision making in this complex type of disease. The participation of patients or caregivers in MB is a contentious issue and is not common in Turkey. In this study we aimed to determine what Turkish physicians participating MTBs in Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine think about the participation of patients and caregivers in MTBs. Method: The study was conducted in Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine in August 2022. The physicians that accepted to participate completed a 9-item questionnaire. The relationships between the participants’ sociodemographic characteristics and their questionnaire responses concerning MTBs were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square test or the Fisher-Freeman-Halton test. Results: No statistically significant correlation was found between the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants and the opinions of cancer patients or their relatives about their participation in multidisciplinary tumor boards. 50 % of the participants do not approve participation of patient or caregivers in MTBs. 35 % of participants approve the participation of both in the MB. 4.4 % of participants approve only the participation of caregivers whereas only the 8.9 % of medical oncologist approve only the participation of patients in tumor board. Conclusion: Among 45 Turkish physicians in a tertiary care center, half of the participants do not approve of the participation of patients or caregivers in MTBs. The major reason for this lack of approval is fear that patients and caregivers will not understand medical terminology which may lead to misunderstanding by patients or caregivers.