Computer-Based Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in Oncology for Individuals 70 or Older With Gastrointestinal Malignancies

October 21, 2013 updated by: Nadine A. Jackson, MD, MPH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Computer-Based Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment in Oncology for Individuals 70 or Older With Colorectal, Breast or Lung Cancer

Older individuals account for one-third of new cancer cases and cancer-related deaths in the United States. Older individuals are more susceptible to having a decrease in physical and mental function following chemotherapy treatment. Geriatric assessment may provide a way to identify those older individuals at greatest risk of functional decline before treatment starts and during the period of treatment. Geriatric assessment includes a set of screening questions and tests designed to determine the physical and mental status of the individual at a point in time. Geriatric assessment also includes review of medications and other medical conditions the individual may have that may affect function. The investigators are conducting this study to determine if older individuals are able to complete the geriatric assessment using a computer format and how that corresponds to their treating physician's assessment of their functional status before and after starting a new chemotherapy treatment for colon, rectal, breast or lung cancer. The investigators will also evaluate the usefulness of a computerized form of geriatric assessment.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Detailed Description

  • Participants will complete the geriatric assessment on the computer either at their home via the web (if they have internet access) or in the clinic at their next visit prior to seeing the doctor.
  • All individuals will have a unique way to sign on to the computer program that protects the information so that only the participant and the research team will be able to view it. Individuals who require assistance to answer the questions will have help provided by a research assistant.
  • We will ask participants to complete the geriatric assessment a second time at 4 months after they have enrolled on the study or 1 month after completing their chemotherapy treatment, whichever occurs first.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

59

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • Massachusetts
      • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02115
        • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

70 years and older (Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants are identified by review of the clinic visit schedule at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, identifying individuals age 70 and older diagnosed with colon, rectal, breast or lung cancer

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
  • Patients with colorectal, breast or lung cancer at any stage who are under consideration for initiation of or change in cytotoxic chemotherapy regimen. Patients must start chemotherapy within 4 weeks of enrollment. Chemotherapy regimens may include traditional cytotoxic therapy, oral biological agent, or combination of a biologic therapy and cytotoxic chemotherapy.
  • Patients age 70 or older at enrollment
  • Patients must be able to read English and able to complete the web-based computer questionnaire

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with a physical limitation preventing computer use (visual impairment, inability to use computer mouse or touch screen).
  • Patients who are hospitalized or enrolled in hospice

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
To determine the feasibility and added clinical utility of a self-administered computer-based version of an abbreviated comprehensive geriatric assessment tool.
Time Frame: 2 years
2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

March 1, 2009

Primary Completion (Actual)

July 1, 2011

Study Completion (Actual)

October 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 8, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 8, 2009

First Posted (Estimate)

September 9, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

October 22, 2013

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 21, 2013

Last Verified

October 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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