Understanding Needs of Older Patients Prior to Starting Cancer Treatment

Summary

A geriatric assessment (GA) is a structured approach to identifying and addressing the strengths and vulnerabilities of older adults with cancer. They can improve the quality of cancer care for older adults and lower side effects. It is recommended a GA be administered prior to the start of non-hormonal systemic therapy for all older adults. Despite these guidelines, only a small percentage of practices report administering them. The practical geriatric assessment (PGA) was developed to help oncology practices perform GAs. It aims to provide a brief way to evaluate older patients' physical health along with other important things like support network and impact to the patient's daily life. Typically, clinics do not receive extra training on delivering the PGA. Providing training and support for staff at cancer clinics may help deliver the enhanced PGA to older adult cancer patients who are starting a new-hormonal systemic therapy. This clinical trial looks at whether providing training and support for staff at cancer clinics can help them deliver patient check-ups (e.g., PGA) specifically designed for adults \>= 65 years old (older adults) starting a new non-hormonal systemic cancer therapy. The usual approach clinics use when starting these cancer therapy courses with an older adult may vary considerably.

Conditions

• Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm
• Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Interventions

OTHER

Survey Administration

Complete interest survey

OTHER

Interview

Complete stakeholder interview

OTHER

Educational Intervention

Receive provider education

OTHER

Educational Intervention

Receive written and/or electronic materials on PGA delivery

OTHER

Assessment

Start or increase PGA and GA management

OTHER

Internet-Based Intervention

Attend virtual meetings

OTHER

Electronic Health Record Review

Complete EHR reviews

OTHER

Survey Administration

Ancillary Studies (Patient Survey)

OTHER

Interview

Ancillary studies (Patient Interview)

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Cancer Institute (NCI)

  collaborator NIH

• Wake Forest University Health Sciences

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Kathryn Weaver, PhD · Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Model

SEQUENTIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2026-01-14

Primary Completion

2027-03-01

Completion

2027-12-31

Countries

• United States
• Puerto Rico

Study Locations