Assessing Older Patients With Cancer

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

- Determine the feasibility of administration of the geriatric assessment in elderly
patients with cancer.

- Determine the percentage of patients able to complete the self-administered portion of
the geriatric assessment without assistance.

- Determine the length of time necessary to complete the geriatric assessment.

- Determine the variance and number of missing items.

- Assess patient satisfaction with the questionnaire by identifying items that are
distressing or difficult to comprehend.

- Assess the percentage of geriatric assessments that contain all three of the following
items: Timed Up and Go Assessment, Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test, and
healthcare professional-rated Karnofsky performance status.

Secondary

- Determine the proportion of patients who are able to complete the self-report portion
of the questionnaire without assistance and the length of time needed to complete the
geriatric assessment within patients of various sociodemographic factors and
educational status.

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to age (65 to 69
years vs 70 years and over).

Patients undergo assessments of cognition using the Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration
Test; functional status using the Timed Up and Go Assessment (measures physical mobility);
and performance status using the healthcare professional-rated Karnofsky performance scale.
These assessments are performed by healthcare personnel. Body mass index and the percentage
of unintentional weight loss and the number of falls in the past 6 months are also assessed.

Patients also complete the following self-administered questionnaires: Instrumental
Activities of Daily Living (measures level of functioning and need for services); Activities
of Daily Living (measures higher levels of physical functioning); Karnofsky Self-Reported
Performance Rating Scale (related to survival and clinically significant illness); Physical
Health Section of the Older American Resources and Services Questionnaire (measures
comorbidity and the impact on daily activities); Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale;
Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Activity Limitations Measure (measures the impact of
cancer on patients' social functioning); and MOS Social Support Survey Emotional/Information
and Tangible Subscales (measures perceived availability of social support).

Patients then begin planned treatment.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed malignancy at any stage

- Enrolled on any cooperative group-sponsored cancer treatment trial (treatment has not
yet started), including trials on the Cancer Trials Support Unit

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

- Any performance status allowed

- Must be able to follow directions in English

- Sufficient cognitive and psychological function to give consent

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

- See Disease Characteristics