Assessment of Older Adults With Cancer: Feasibility of Computer Survey Methodology

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possibility of using a computer-based survey to gather information from older patients and their caregivers about the patient's daily activities, need for assistance, other medical problems, mood, nutrition and symptoms. Researchers will evaluate how many subjects are able to complete the survey on their own and the length of time needed to do so. Also, researchers will analyze the types of responses to each item and whether subjects are satisfied with the questionnaire.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Assessment, Geriatric

Detailed Description

Patients older than age 65, in comparison to those younger than 65, have an 11-fold increased cancer incidence and a 16-fold increase in cancer mortality. The population at risk is growing rapidly: the number of adults age 65 and older is expected to double in the next 30 years. In order to adequately care for this growing population of older adults, oncologists need an assessment tool that provides information regarding an older individual's "functional age" in comparison to their "chronological age." The technology of geriatric assessment could potentially help identify those older adults who are more vulnerable to complications from cancer treatment. This inter-disciplinary assessment provides information regarding the patient's functional status, comorbid medical conditions, other medications, nutritional status, psychological state, social support, and cognition.

Hurria and colleagues developed a geriatric assessment for older adults with cancer, which includes well validated measures of functional status, comorbid medical conditions, nutritional status, psychological state, cognitive function, social activity, and social support. Pilot data demonstrates the feasibility of this assessment which can be completed in less than 30 minutes; however, this assessment is completed by "pencil and paper" and requires an interviewer to deliver and score the assessment.

Loscalzo, Clark, and colleagues have developed a computer methodology in order to assess the needs of patients with cancer of all ages. The assessment is completed by the patients and a scoring algorithm is developed to provide a summary of the patient's needs for the healthcare team. This assessment is highly successful at identifying the needs of patients of all ages.

In this protocol, we will merge the research interests of Hurria, Loscalzo, and Clark by developing a computer survey program to capture the physical and psychological needs of older adults with cancer. The goal of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of computer survey methodology among older adults with cancer. For the purposes of this protocol we will accrue patients with lymphoma and lung cancer.

Schema:

1. Identify an older adult (age 65 and older) with lymphoma or lung cancer.
2. Describe the study to the patient: patient consents or refuses.
3. Consenting patients complete the geriatric assessment via a computer survey.
4. The following feasibility data will be captured: length of time to complete the assessment, patient's need for assistance to complete the assessment, satisfaction with the use of computer survey methodology to complete the assessment.
5. The primary caretaker (if available) will be invited to participate in the protocol and complete a caregiver's survey of the patient's needs and questions about caregiver burden.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 200

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Duarte, California, United States, 91010
      • City of Hope Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 65 years and older (Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Brawerman Center-Outpatient Clinics (City of Hope)

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must be > age of 65
• Diagnosis of lymphoma or lung cancer
• Be able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not fluent in English (because not all questionnaires have been validated in other languages)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Group 1; Patients with lymphoma or lung cancer
Group 2; Caregivers

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Feasibility of delivering the geriatric assessment via computer survey methodology.	Upon enrollment (one timepoint)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
% of patients who do not enter the study and reason why	Upon enrollment (one timepoint)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: City of Hope Medical Center
• Collaborators: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Arti Hurria, MD, City of Hope Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: July 1, 2009
• Primary Completion (Actual): July 1, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): July 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 15, 2009
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 15, 2009
• First Posted (Estimate): September 16, 2009

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): September 21, 2011
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 19, 2011
• Last Verified: September 1, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Geriatric Assessment
• Other Study ID Numbers: 08147; P50CA107399-04 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); K23AG026749-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)