title: A comprehensive geriatric assessment screening questionnaire (CGA-GOLD) for older people undergoing treatment for cancer.
abstract: Oncology services do not routinely assess broader needs of older people with cancer. This study evaluates a comprehensive geriatric assessment and comorbidity screening questionnaire (CGA-GOLD) covering evidence-based domains and quality of life (EORTC-QLQ-C30). Patients aged 65+ attending oncology services were recruited into (1) Observational cohort (completed CGA-GOLD, received standard oncology care), (2) Intervention cohort (responses categorised 'low-risk', 'high-risk', 'possible need' by geriatricians). N = 417 observational patients (1002 invited by post, 418 consented, age 73.9 ± 5.4) completed CGA-GOLD in 11.7 ± 7.9 min, 86.3% required no assistance, 3.1% overall missing responses. Multiple problems reported: hypertension (18.1%), diabetes (16.9%), dyspnoea on flat surfaces (27.6%), polypharmacy (46%), difficulty walking (14.9%), fatigue (40.5%), living alone (30.9%), social isolation (11.2%), recent functional dependence (27.8%), urinary incontinence (21.4%), falls (13.3%). 237/239 intervention patients completed CGA-GOLD and consecutive subsets examined. The doctor and nurse specialist independently identified same need level in 87.3% (high inter-rater reliability kappa = 0.80), taking 1-2 min per questionnaire. Need level remained unchanged following hospital notes review against responses in 90% (75/83). 'Possible need' patients were telephoned with change in 29% (16/55) to low-risk and none to high-risk, confirming high need was not being missed. CGA-GOLD screening questionnaire was acceptable to older patients, feasibly administered in NHS cancer services, described comorbidities, CGA and QOL needs, and reliably identified higher risk patients requiring further input for optimal cancer treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ageing & Health, Guys & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Whittle
authors.affiliation: Department of Ageing & Health, Guys & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.|Division of Health and Social Care Research, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kalsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Ageing & Health, Guys & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Babic-Illman
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Care and Public Health Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Guys & St Thomas' NHS Trust, Guys Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fields
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Guys & St Thomas' NHS Trust, Guys Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Guys & St Thomas' NHS Trust, Guys Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Maisey
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Guys & St Thomas' NHS Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.affiliation: Bexley Clinical Commissioning Group/Macmillan GP, Crook Log General Practice Surgery, Bexleyheath, Kent, UK.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ageing & Health, Guys & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.|Division of Health and Social Care Research, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Harari
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D019338:Polypharmacy; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012934:Social Isolation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: cancer; comorbidities; comprehensive geriatric assessment; older; quality of life; screening; self-report questionnaire