AUTHOR=Braulke Friederike , Kober Kathrin , Arndt Andreas , Papendick Maximilian , Strauss Arne , Kramm Christof Maria , Thoms Kai-Martin , König Alexander , Gaedcke Jochen , Gallwas Julia , Wulf Svenja , Szuszies Christoph , Wulf Gerald , Rödel Ralph , Wolfer Susanne , Malinova Vesna , Overbeck Tobias R. , Hinterthaner Marc , Lotz Joachim , Nauck Friedemann , Ernst Marielle , Stadelmann Christine , Ströbel Philipp , Ellenrieder Volker , Asendorf Thomas , Rieken Stefan 

TITLE=Optimizing the structure of interdisciplinary tumor boards for effective cancer care

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2023.1072652

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2023.1072652

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=Multi-professional interdisciplinary tumor boards (ITB) are essential institutions to discuss all newly diagnosed, relapsed or complex cancer patients in a team of specialists to find an optimal cancer care plan for each individual patient with regard to national and international clinical practice guidelines, patient´s preference and comorbidities. In a high-volume cancer center, entity-specific ITBs take place at least once a week discussing a large number of patients. To a high level of expertise and dedication, this also requires an enormous amount of time for physicians, cancer specialists and administrative support colleagues, especially for radiologists, pathologists, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists, who must attend all cancer-specific boards according to certification requirements. In this 15-month prospective German single-center analysis, we examined the established structures of 12 different cancer-specific ITBs at the certified Oncology Center and demonstrate tools helping to optimize processes before, during and after the boards for optimal, time-saving procedures. By changing pathways, introducing revised registration protocols and new digital supports we could show that the workload of preparation by radiologists and pathologists could be reduced significantly by 22.9% (p=<0.0001) and 52.7% (p=<0.0001), respectively. Furthermore, two questions were added to all registration forms about the patient´s need for specialized palliative care support that should lead to more awareness and early integration of specialized help.