‘Pretty fit and healthy’: The discussion of older people in cancer multidisciplinary meetings

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer multidisciplinary meetings (MDMs) are central to treatment decision making. The language used in MDMs may influence treatment decisions, yet has received little research attention. This study aimed to examine the terminology used to describe non-cancer items in the discussion of older people within cancer MDMs. Methods: MDMs of four tumour streams were attended over twelve weeks. For each person aged 70 or older discussed, the following was hand recorded: age, gender, and phrases describing non-cancer items and patient views. A qualitative thematic analysis was employed to examine the text. Results: Twenty cancer MDMs were attended, at which 71 people aged 70 or older we..