title: Electronic Rapid Fitness Assessment: A Novel Tool for Preoperative Evaluation of the Geriatric Oncology Patient.
abstract: Background:The American College of Surgeons and American Geriatrics Society recommend performing a geriatric assessment (GA) in the preoperative evaluation of older patients. To address this, we developed an electronic GA, the Electronic Rapid Fitness Assessment (eRFA). We reviewed the feasibility and clinical utility of the eRFA in the preoperative evaluation of geriatric patients.Methods:We performed a retrospective review of our experience using the eRFA in the preoperative assessment of geriatric patients. The rate and time to completion of the eRFA were recorded. The first 50 patients who completed the assessment were asked additional questions to assess their satisfaction. Descriptive statistics of patient-reported geriatric-related data were used for analysis.Results:In 2015, 636 older patients with cancer (median age, 80 years) completed the eRFA during preoperative evaluation. The median time to completion was 11 minutes (95% CI, 11-12 minutes). Only 13% of patients needed someone else to complete the assessment for them. Of the first 50 patients, 88% (95% CI, 75%-95%) responded that answering questions using the eRFA was easy. Geriatric syndromes were commonly identified through the performance of the GA: 16% of patients had a positive screening for cognitive impairment, 22% (95% CI, 19%-26%) needed a cane to ambulate, and 26% (95% CI, 23%-30%) had fallen at least once during the previous year.Conclusions:Implementation of the eRFA was feasible. The eRFA identified relevant geriatric syndromes in the preoperative setting that, if addressed, could lead to improved outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shahrokni
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tin
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Downey
authors.affiliation: Gastric and Mixed Tumor Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Strong
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
authors.forename: Sanam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahmoudzadeh
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
authors.forename: Manpreet K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Boparai
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
authors.forename: Sincere
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McMillan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vickers
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Korc-Grodzicki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000066491:Clinical Decision-Making / Q000379:methods; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D016330:Frail Elderly; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010809:Physical Fitness; D057234:Preoperative Period; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome