The authors stated that a total of 37 studies were included in the review (10 non-randomised trials, nine surveys, seven cohort studies, five observation studies, three qualitative studies, three simulations and one randomised controlled trial. Median study quality score was 9 out of 18 (range 3 to 15) for quantitative studies and 13 out of 24 (range 9 to 14) for qualitative studies.
Impact on care decisions (ten studies): multidisciplinary cancer teams changed cancer management by individual physicians in two to 52% of cases (six studies).
Efficacy of multidisciplinary cancer teams' decision-making (eight studies): Definitive care management decisions were possible at first case presentation between 48 and 73% of times investigated (three studies). Decisions were not implemented in one to 16% of cases (six studies). Time pressure, excessive caseload, low attendance, poor team working and lack of leadership lead to lack of information and deterioration of decision-making.
How multidisciplinary cancer teams arrive at care management decisions (seven studies): Team decisions were made by physicians using biomedical information. Nurses did not have an active role and patient preferences were not discussed.
Telemedicine and decision-support systems (eight studies): Telemedicine was increasingly used in developed countries, with no detriment to quality of decision-making.