title: Healthcare satisfaction in older and younger patients with cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although older patients represent the most rapidly growing segment of the oncology population, clinical care is guided by very little data on patient-reported outcomes, particularly satisfaction with healthcare. Using a large cancer center registry, we sought to describe factors associated with satisfaction with care for older and younger oncology patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected through the University of North Carolina Health Registry Cancer Survivorship Cohort. Satisfaction was measured with the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire Short Form. Quality of life (QOL) measures included were the Promis Global short form and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy General (FACT-G).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2385 patients were included. 460 (20%) were aged 70 and above (older group). Older patients reported significantly higher levels of satisfaction in domains of time spent with doctor (scores 3.84 versus 3.73 p=0.03) and financial aspects (scores 4.03 versus 3.44 p<0.001) compared to younger patients. In multivariable analysis, higher QOL scores and higher self-reported ECOG performance status were associated with higher satisfaction scores. African American race was associated with lower satisfaction scores in all age groups. QOL was more closely correlated with satisfaction in older patients compared to younger patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Older patients with cancer report higher levels of satisfaction with care, in part due to lesser financial burden of care. Better QOL is associated with satisfaction with care in older patients. Use of patient-reported outcomes such as patient satisfaction may help improve patient-centered geriatric oncology care.
authors.affiliation: Royal Columbian Hospital, Medical Oncology, University of British Columbia, New Westminster, BC, Canada. Electronic address: carolinejmariano@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mariano
authors.affiliation: Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Laura C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hanson
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Biostatistics Core, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Allison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Deal
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Biostatistics Core, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Hojin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bensen
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hendrix
authors.affiliation: Medicine/Hematology-Oncology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Hyman B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Muss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries; D057566:Self Report; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Geriatric oncology; Patient satisfaction; Quality of life