Clinical experience of cancer specialists and geriatricians involved in cancer care of older patients: A qualitative study.
BACKGROUND
Cancer is an important health problem in older persons. The aim of this study was to explore how cancer specialists and geriatricians manage the treatment of older patients with cancer.


METHODS
Interviews using semi-structured open-ended questions.


METHODS
physicians working in oncology and geriatric medicine at McGill affiliated hospitals.


METHODS
Grounded-theory approach.


RESULTS
24 cancer specialists and 17 geriatricians participated. There was considerable variability with regard to assessment, treatment plan, and follow-up care and little collaboration between both specialists. The cancer specialists have more older cancer patients in their practice and collaborate with geriatricians mostly to deal with complications of cancer treatment. However, both groups of specialists expressed a desire to collaborate more and had similar research priorities.


CONCLUSIONS
There was considerable variability in the management of older patients with cancer. Care for older patients with cancer might be improved by more collaboration between cancer specialists and geriatricians.
Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Canada. martine.puts@mail.mcgill.ca
M T E
MT
Puts
V
V
Girre
J
J
Monette
C
C
Wolfson
M
M
Monette
G
G
Batist
H
H
Bergman
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D005853:Geriatrics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011361:Professional Competence; D011364:Professional Practice; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data