title: Delphi Study to Determine Rehabilitation Research Priorities for Older Adults With Cancer.
abstract: To solicit expert opinions and develop consensus around the research that is needed to improve cancer rehabilitation for older adults.
  
  
  
  Delphi methods provided a structured process to elicit and prioritize research questions from national experts.
  
  
  
  National, Web-based survey.
  
  
  
  Members (N=32) of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine completed at least 1 of 3 investigator-developed surveys.
  
  
  
  Not applicable.
  
  
  
  In the first survey, participants identified up to 5 research questions that needed to be answered to improve cancer rehabilitation for older adults. In 2 subsequent surveys, participants viewed the compilation of questions, rated the importance of each question, and identified the 5 most important questions. This generated priority scores for each question. Consensus scores were created to describe the degree of agreement around the priority of each question.
  
  
  
  Highest priority research concerns the epidemiology and measurement of function and disability in older adult cancer survivors; the effects of cancer rehabilitation interventions on falls, disability, participation, survival, costs, quality of care, and health care utilization; and testing models of care that facilitate referrals from oncology to rehabilitation providers as part of coordinated, multicomponent care.
  
  
  
  A multipronged approach is needed to fill these gaps, including targeted funding opportunities developed with an advisory panel of cancer rehabilitation experts, development of a research network to facilitate novel collaborations and grant proposals, and coordinated efforts of clinical groups to advocate for funding, practice change, and policy change.
authors.affiliation: Norris Cotton Cancer Center, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH; Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH. Electronic address: Kathleen.D.Lyons@dartmouth.edu.
authors.forename: Kathleen Doyle
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.affiliation: Courage Kenny Research Center, Minneapolis, MN.
authors.forename: Mary Vining
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Radomski
authors.affiliation: American Cancer Society, Inc, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Alfano
authors.affiliation: Courage Kenny Research Center, Minneapolis, MN.
authors.forename: Marsha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Finkelstein
authors.affiliation: Mrs. T.H. Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA.
authors.forename: Alix G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Sleight
authors.affiliation: School of Physical Therapy, Kean University, Union, NJ.
authors.forename: Timothy F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation & Integrative Medicine, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Jack B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls / Q000517:prevention & control; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003697:Delphi Technique; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D062486:Public Health Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D000066768:Rehabilitation Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D058992:Social Participation
keywords: Aged; Consensus; Neoplasms; Rehabilitation; Strategic planning