Teams of professionals working together (multidisciplinary teams) have improved outcomes for people with many different conditions, including cancer. But a study found that this way of working may not support patient preferences. It calls for professionals to ensure that people with cancer take part in decisions about their treatment.

Multidisciplinary teams bring together different specialists involved in a patient’s care. In team meetings, professionals may discuss treatment options in a patient-centred way, but they rarely include patients themselves. Patients may, for example, choose treatments that allow them to do things they love, rather than to live longer.

This study focused on head and neck cancer. Researchers observed multidisciplinary teams making treatment decisions and assessed patients’ engagement with their recommendations.

The study found that team meetings were frequently dominated by doctors’ opinions on the best treatment. Patients tended to be presented with the team’s preferred treatment option, rather than all treatment options; their preferences often did not inform treatment decisions.

The researchers call for healthcare professionals to find ways to ensure that patient preferences inform decision-making. Training for professionals on shared decision-making could help; as could re-structuring team meetings. People could benefit from dedicated time or other support tools to help them fully explore their treatment options.