title: The assessment and management of older cancer patients: A SIOG surgical task force survey on surgeons' attitudes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Surgical Task Force at SIOG (International Society of Geriatric Oncology) designed this survey to explore the surgical oncologists' approach toward elderly cancer patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A web-based survey was sent to all members of ESSO (European Society of Surgical Oncology) and SSO (Society of Surgical Oncology).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and fifty-one surgeons responded (11% response rate) with a main interest on breast (62.1%), colorectal (43%) and hepatobiliary (27.4%) surgery. Almost all surgeons (>90%) offer surgery regardless the patient's age; only 48% consider mandatory a preoperative frailty assessment. The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, nutritional and performance status are most frequently used as screening tools; only 6.4% surgeons use Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in daily practice and collaboration with geriatricians is low (36.3%). If proven to be effective, the majority of surgeons (71%) is prepared to pre-habilitate patients for up to 4 weeks before surgery. One in two surgeons would not offer an operation to patients with impaired cognitive status; conversely, one in three would proceed to surgery regardless of the patient's cognitive status, if functional capacity is conserved. Quality of life and functional recovery are regarded as the most important endpoints in onco-geriatric surgery. Large "real life" prospective observational studies and randomized controlled trials are demanded.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age is not perceived as a limitation to surgery. Screening for frailty is limited. A thorough CGA is seldom used and collaboration with geriatricians is rather uncommon. There is a need for clinical investigations focusing on pre-habilitation and other strategies to achieve better functional recovery.
authors.affiliation: University of Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Department of Surgery, Via Giuseppe Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address: ghignone.bologna@gmail.com.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghignone
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Surgery, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.affiliation: University of Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Department of Surgery, Via Giuseppe Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Montroni
authors.affiliation: University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Surgery, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Huisman
authors.affiliation: Roger Williams Medical Center, Division of Surgical Oncology, Affiliate of Boston University, 50 Maude Street, Providence, RI 02908, United States.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Somasundar
authors.affiliation: University of Nottingham, Royal Derby Hospital, Uttoxeter Road, Derby DE22 3DT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: University of Liverpool, St. Helens Teaching Hospital, Department of Surgery, Marshalls Cross Road, St. Helens WA9 3DA, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Audisio
authors.affiliation: University of Bologna, Policlinico S. Orsola-Malpighi, Department of Surgery, Via Giuseppe Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ugolini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000150:complications; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D003107:Colorectal Surgery; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005853:Geriatrics; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011788:Quality of Life; D020127:Recovery of Function; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Frailty; Functional recovery; Geriatric assessment; Geriatric oncology; Surgery; Survey