title: Multicenter implementation of geriatric assessment in Belgian patients with cancer: a survey on treating physicians' general experiences and expectations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to identify treating physicians' general experiences and expectations regarding geriatric assessment (GA) in older patients with cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A survey was carried out in 9 Belgian hospitals, which participated in a national GA implementation project focusing on older patients with cancer. A newly developed questionnaire was completed by their treating physicians. Data collection comprised of reviewing hospital data, general respondent data, and treating physicians' general experiences and expectations regarding GA. Descriptive statistics were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-two physicians from 9 hospitals participated. The GA team composition can vary substantially, with a nurse as core member. Ideally, all older patients with cancer in whom a treatment decision is necessary, should benefit from the GA. Nearly all GA domains are reported as very important. Availability of GA results can be improved. Treating physicians want geriatricians to coordinate geriatric recommendations related to the identified GA problems, and expect from trained healthcare workers (THCWs) to collect GA data, to report GA results, and to follow-up the implementation of geriatric recommendations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study identifies relevant information for improving the implementation of GA in older patients with cancer in Belgium and reveals priorities for a THCW from the treating physician's point of view. To increase the effectiveness of GA, further efforts are needed to improve the implementation of geriatric recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kenis
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Health Services and Nursing Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heeren
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, ULB Institut Bordet, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bron
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Oncologisch Centrum, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lore
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Decoster
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, UCL, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ramona
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moor
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospital Erasme, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pepersack
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Iridium Cancer Network Antwerp, AZ Klina, Brasschaat, Belgium.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Langenaeken
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Iridium Cancer Network Antwerp, St. Augustinus, Wilrijk, Belgium.
authors.forename: Marika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rasschaert
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sart Tilman, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jerusalem
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, ZNA Stuivenberg, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ruud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Van Rijswijk
authors.affiliation: Consultant in Statistics, Beernem, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lobelle
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flamaing
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Health Services and Nursing Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Geriatric Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Koen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Milisen
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium. Electronic address: hans.wildiers@uzleuven.be.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wildiers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010820:Physicians / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Cancer; Geriatric assessment; Older person