Better assessment of elderly patients’ needs to improve cancer treatment
How can we effectively care for a rapidly growing ageing population? This group’s growth in numbers has created the need for healthcare to become more responsive to new and major health challenges. Among these challenges is effectively dealing with the comorbidities of elderly patients. The care models presently in place are proving slow, costly and inadequate to tackle the complexity of dealing with patients suffering from multiple chronic diseases. To address these issues, the EU-funded GERONTE project aims to enhance but also simplify the process of caring for patients who suffer from cancer and other illnesses in an innovative way. Findings from a project study on assessment of the needs of older patients with cancer have been published in the ‘Journal of Geriatric Oncology’. Following a systematic review of relevant data, the authors conclude that a more intensive, in-depth assessment can change treatment plans for the better. It can also lead to interventions that will improve communication about care planning. Cancer treatment poses additional risks and potentially serious side effects for elderly patients. “Because older patients are so different at the same age, it is important to map the degree of frailty, or how fit they are, before we start cancer treatment,” explains co-author Dr Siri Rostoft, of Oslo University Hospital, Norway, in a news item published on the university website.
Patient-centred cancer treatment
The study also looked at impacts of different types of assessment, and underlined the importance of determining any cognitive impairment. “A geriatric assessment led to more goals-of-care discussions and improved communication,” the authors note in the study. This helps the treatment plan cover individual level of functioning, cognitive and emotional function, and social network. Other questions should also be factored in. “Do they primarily want to avoid side effects, or relieve symptoms from the tumor? Do they want life-prolonging treatment at any cost, or is it more important for them to be able to function well in their daily life?” outlines Dr Rostoft. As the authors conclude in the study, “geriatric assessment can lower complication/toxicity rates, improves likelihood of treatment completion, and leads to better physical functioning and quality of life.” The long-term aim of GERONTE (Streamlined Geriatric and Oncological evaluation based on IC Technology for holistic patient-oriented healthcare management for older multimorbid patients) is to help improve the quality of life of multimorbid patients while also reducing care costs and refining decision-making processes. The project runs for 5 years to 2026. For more information, please see: GERONTE project website
Keywords
GERONTE, elderly, cancer, healthcare, geriatric assessment, multimorbid patients