Feasibility of geriatric assessment in community oncology clinics.
OBJECTIVE
Emerging results support the value of geriatric assessment (GA) in determining the risk and benefits of cancer treatment in older adults. A brief GA tool consisting of valid and reliable measures has been developed; however, little data exist on the ability to perform the GA in community oncology clinics. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of performing the GA in the community.


METHODS
Patients aged ≥65 were eligible. The GA included a health care provider assessment of performance status, cognitive function, a Timed Up and Go test, and a self-administered patient questionnaire that evaluated measures of functional status, comorbidity, psychological state, social support, and nutritional status.


RESULTS
From 2009 to 2013, 1088 patients were assessed including 339 (31%) from seven community clinics across North Carolina. The median amount of time to complete the patient-report portion of the GA was 19min in the academic center versus 22min in the community. The median amount of time to complete the entire GA was 23min in the academic center and 30min in community settings. Significantly more patients in the community required assistance completing the questionnaire (24% vs. 14%); however, most patients required no assistance (76%).


CONCLUSIONS
A brief GA can be performed in community oncology clinics. The time to complete the professional assessments and patient self-assessments were similar in both settings. Future studies are planned to determine if such assessments can improve cancer care for older patients.
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA. Electronic address: grwillia@unch.unc.edu.
Grant R
GR
Williams
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA.
Allison M
AM
Deal
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA.
Trevor A
TA
Jolly
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA.
Shani M
SM
Alston
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA.
Brittaney-Belle E
BB
Gordon
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA.
Samara A
SA
Dixon
Rex Cancer Center, 4420 Lake Boone Trail, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Oludamilola A
OA
Olajide
New Bern Cancer Center, 1010 Medical Park Ave, New Bern, NC, USA.
W
W
Chris Taylor
SECU Cancer Center at Mission Hospital, 509 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801, USA.
Michael J
MJ
Messino
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, 450 West Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA.
Hyman B
HB
Muss
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000379:methods; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D003151:Community Health Centers; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D009657:North Carolina; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Aging; Community oncology clinics; Geriatric assessment; Geriatric oncology