Department of Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.
University of Rochester Cancer Center National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program Research Base, Rochester, New York.
JAMA Oncol. 2020 Feb 1;6(2):196-204. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.4728.
IMPORTANCE: Older patients with cancer and their caregivers worry about the effects of cancer treatment on aging-related domains (eg, function and cognition). Quality conversations with oncologists about aging-related concerns could improve patient-centered outcomes. A geriatric assessment (GA) can capture evidence-based aging-related conditions associated with poor clinical outcomes (eg, toxic effects) for older patients with cancer. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether providing a GA summary and GA-guided recommendations to oncologists can improve communication about aging-related concerns. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This cluster-randomized clinical trial enrolled 541 participants from 31 community oncology practices within the University of Rochester National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program from October 29, 2014, to April 28, 2017. Patients were aged 70 years or older with an advanced solid malignant tumor or lymphoma who had at least 1 impaired GA domain; patients chose 1 caregiver to participate. The primary outcome was assessed on an intent-to-treat basis. INTERVENTIONS: Oncology practices were randomized to receive either a tailored GA summary with recommendations for each enrolled patient (intervention) or alerts only for patients meeting criteria for depression or cognitive impairment (usual care). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The predetermined primary outcome was patient satisfaction with communication about aging-related concerns (modified Health Care Climate Questionnaire [score range, 0-28; higher scores indicate greater satisfaction]), measured after the first oncology visit after the GA. Secondary outcomes included the number of aging-related concerns discussed during the visit (from content analysis of audiorecordings), quality of life (measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy scale for patients and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey for caregivers), and caregiver satisfaction with communication about aging-related patient concerns. RESULTS: A total of 541 eligible patients (264 women, 276 men, and 1 patient did not provide data; mean [SD] age, 76.6 [5.2] years) and 414 caregivers (310 women, 101 men, and 3 caregivers did not provide data; mean age, 66.5 [12.5] years) were enrolled. Patients in the intervention group were more satisfied after the visit with communication about aging-related concerns (difference in mean score, 1.09 points; 95% CI, 0.05-2.13 points; P = .04); satisfaction with communication about aging-related concerns remained higher in the intervention group over 6 months (difference in mean score, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.04-2.16; P = .04). There were more aging-related conversations in the intervention group's visits (difference, 3.59; 95% CI, 2.22-4.95; P < .001). Caregivers in the intervention group were more satisfied with communication after the visit (difference, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.12-1.98; P = .03). Quality of life outcomes did not differ between groups. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Including GA in oncology clinical visits for older adults with advanced cancer improves patient-centered and caregiver-centered communication about aging-related concerns. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02107443.
重要性:患有癌症的老年患者及其护理人员担心癌症治疗对与衰老相关的领域(例如功能和认知)的影响。与肿瘤医生进行有关与衰老相关的问题的高质量对话可以改善以患者为中心的结果。老年评估(GA)可以捕捉与癌症老年患者不良临床结果(例如毒性作用)相关的循证衰老相关状况。 目的:确定为肿瘤医生提供 GA 总结和 GA 指导建议是否可以改善与衰老相关的问题的沟通。 设计、地点和参与者:这项聚类随机临床试验招募了来自罗切斯特大学国家癌症研究所社区肿瘤学研究计划的 31 个社区肿瘤学实践中的 541 名参与者,时间为 2014 年 10 月 29 日至 2017 年 4 月 28 日。患者年龄为 70 岁或以上,患有晚期实体恶性肿瘤或淋巴瘤,至少有 1 个受损的 GA 域;患者选择 1 名护理人员参与。主要结果是基于意向治疗进行评估的。 干预措施:肿瘤学实践随机接受每位入组患者的个性化 GA 总结和建议(干预组)或仅对符合抑郁或认知障碍标准的患者发出警报(常规护理)。 主要结果和测量:预定的主要结果是患者对与衰老相关的问题沟通的满意度(修改后的健康护理气候问卷[评分范围,0-28;分数越高表示满意度越高]),在 GA 后的第一次肿瘤学就诊后进行测量。次要结果包括在就诊期间讨论的与衰老相关的问题数量(从录音的内容分析中得出)、生活质量(患者使用癌症治疗功能评估量表和护理人员使用 12 项简短健康调查进行测量)以及护理人员对与衰老相关的患者问题沟通的满意度。 结果:共有 541 名符合条件的患者(264 名女性,276 名男性,1 名患者未提供数据;平均[标准差]年龄为 76.6[5.2]岁)和 414 名护理人员(310 名女性,101 名男性,3 名护理人员未提供数据;平均年龄为 66.5[12.5]岁)入组。干预组患者在就诊后对与衰老相关的问题的沟通更满意(平均评分差异,1.09 分;95%置信区间,0.05-2.13 分;P=0.04);干预组在 6 个月内对与衰老相关的问题的沟通满意度仍然较高(平均评分差异,1.10;95%置信区间,0.04-2.16;P=0.04)。干预组就诊时的与衰老相关的对话更多(差异,3.59;95%置信区间,2.22-4.95;P<0.001)。干预组的护理人员就诊后对沟通更满意(差异,1.05;95%置信区间,0.12-1.98;P=0.03)。两组的生活质量结果没有差异。 结论和相关性:为患有晚期癌症的老年成年人进行肿瘤学临床就诊时纳入 GA,可以改善以患者为中心和以护理人员为中心的与衰老相关的问题的沟通。 试验注册:ClinicalTrials.gov 标识符:NCT02107443。
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