Multidisciplinary clinics in cancer-models, metrics, and meaning: a review.

Few studies have been published on the existing models of cancer multidisciplinary clinics (MDCs) and no studies have conclusively compared the implications of different MDC models. We aimed to characterize MDC structural elements and reported quality measures through a narrative review of cancer MDCs in the United States. Forty-one unique MDCs were examined (8 breast, 13 gastrointestinal [GI], 8 genitourinary [GU], 4 head and neck [HN], 3 lung, 5 other cancers). MDCs were most commonly weekly (19/41) and evaluated new patients (9/41). All breast and most GU (5/8) and lung (2/3) MDCs were asynchronous whereas all HN MDCs were synchronous. Interdisciplinary discussions most frequently preceded provider visits, except for HN and other cancer MDCs. Medical, radiation, and surgical oncology were almost always included across all MDCs. The 41 unique institutional MDCs were reported across 54 studies (10 breast, 17 GI, 13 GU, 4 HN, 4 lung, 6 other cancers). Outcome measures were investigated by 38/54 (70%) studies, of which 13 reported overall survival and 6 (46%) noted a statistically significant improvement with MDCs. All lung and approximately half of GI (7/17), breast (5/10), and HN (2/4) MDCs examined a process measure. Structure and balance measures were not as widely reported. Current understanding of MDCs is based on disparate reports with significant heterogeneity in MDC structures and reported outcomes. Further investigation is needed to better elucidate the impact of MDCs in cancer care outcomes across different cancer diagnoses.