Integrating Geriatric Care in Clinical Oncology Practice: Recommendations from an Interdisciplinary Professional Survey Study in a Single-Cancer Center in Switzerland.

Cancer is a common health problem in the older population. In Switzerland, more than 40,000 patients are diagnosed with cancer every year, with the majority older than 65 years. Because older patients are often excluded from clinical trials, optimal treatment for this population needs to be consider...

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Main Authors: Marcus Vetter, Claudia Bollinger, Diana Chiru, Meret Petitat-Berli, Kristina Degener, Bettina Seifert, Robert Rosenberg, Svetozar Subotic, Emanuel Burri, Anne Leuppi-Taegtmeyer, Frank Zimmermann, Vanessa Muri-John, Marianna Javier-Gonzalez, Andreas Zeller, Heinz Unger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: THE HEALTHBOOK COMPANY LTD. 2023-06-01
Series:healthbook TIMES. Oncology Hematology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.36000/hbT.OH.2023.16.106
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author Marcus Vetter
Claudia Bollinger
Diana Chiru
Meret Petitat-Berli
Kristina Degener
Bettina Seifert
Robert Rosenberg
Svetozar Subotic
Emanuel Burri
Anne Leuppi-Taegtmeyer
Frank Zimmermann
Vanessa Muri-John
Marianna Javier-Gonzalez
Andreas Zeller
Heinz Unger
author_facet Marcus Vetter
Claudia Bollinger
Diana Chiru
Meret Petitat-Berli
Kristina Degener
Bettina Seifert
Robert Rosenberg
Svetozar Subotic
Emanuel Burri
Anne Leuppi-Taegtmeyer
Frank Zimmermann
Vanessa Muri-John
Marianna Javier-Gonzalez
Andreas Zeller
Heinz Unger
author_sort Marcus Vetter
collection DOAJ
description Cancer is a common health problem in the older population. In Switzerland, more than 40,000 patients are diagnosed with cancer every year, with the majority older than 65 years. Because older patients are often excluded from clinical trials, optimal treatment for this population needs to be considered to prevent over- or under-treatment. Several international guidelines provide recommendations for special care of older and frail patients, with a focus on addressing comorbidities in cancer care. In many countries, including the USA, Belgium, France and the Netherlands, special geriatric oncology units are established for this huge group of cancer patients. Currently, such units have not been routinely established in Switzerland, so we were interested in assessing viewpoints and opinions about such a future geriatric oncology unit at our institution. This article discusses the outcome of an online questionnaire within a midsize cancer center in Switzerland. The survey focused on preferences among members of the interdisciplinary cancer diagnostic and treatment team regarding screening for frailty, decision tools and instruments, while also accounting for each individuals level of healthcare experience. The response rate was 54% (22 out of 41 responses within 4 weeks). The majority (94%) voted for a clear benefit from a regular geriatric oncology multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT) and 54.5% voted to use the G8 form as the preferred screening tool for frailty. In order to optimize treatment, most participants stressed the importance of adjusting all factors according to co-morbidities and nutrition. This questionnaire, however, represents only a small group of healthcare professionals working in the cancer center who are in favor of implementing a geriatric oncology unit. PEER REVIEWED ARTICLE
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series healthbook TIMES. Oncology Hematology
spelling doaj-art-e4e99fee78a84ef4bd20ca36c1d89e662025-08-20T03:38:14ZengTHE HEALTHBOOK COMPANY LTD.healthbook TIMES. Oncology Hematology2673-20922673-21062023-06-0116210.36000/hbT.OH.2023.16.106Integrating Geriatric Care in Clinical Oncology Practice: Recommendations from an Interdisciplinary Professional Survey Study in a Single-Cancer Center in Switzerland.Marcus VetterClaudia BollingerDiana ChiruMeret Petitat-BerliKristina DegenerBettina SeifertRobert RosenbergSvetozar SuboticEmanuel BurriAnne Leuppi-TaegtmeyerFrank ZimmermannVanessa Muri-JohnMarianna Javier-GonzalezAndreas ZellerHeinz UngerCancer is a common health problem in the older population. In Switzerland, more than 40,000 patients are diagnosed with cancer every year, with the majority older than 65 years. Because older patients are often excluded from clinical trials, optimal treatment for this population needs to be considered to prevent over- or under-treatment. Several international guidelines provide recommendations for special care of older and frail patients, with a focus on addressing comorbidities in cancer care. In many countries, including the USA, Belgium, France and the Netherlands, special geriatric oncology units are established for this huge group of cancer patients. Currently, such units have not been routinely established in Switzerland, so we were interested in assessing viewpoints and opinions about such a future geriatric oncology unit at our institution. This article discusses the outcome of an online questionnaire within a midsize cancer center in Switzerland. The survey focused on preferences among members of the interdisciplinary cancer diagnostic and treatment team regarding screening for frailty, decision tools and instruments, while also accounting for each individuals level of healthcare experience. The response rate was 54% (22 out of 41 responses within 4 weeks). The majority (94%) voted for a clear benefit from a regular geriatric oncology multidisciplinary team meeting (MDT) and 54.5% voted to use the G8 form as the preferred screening tool for frailty. In order to optimize treatment, most participants stressed the importance of adjusting all factors according to co-morbidities and nutrition. This questionnaire, however, represents only a small group of healthcare professionals working in the cancer center who are in favor of implementing a geriatric oncology unit. PEER REVIEWED ARTICLEhttps://doi.org/10.36000/hbT.OH.2023.16.106
spellingShingle Marcus Vetter
Claudia Bollinger
Diana Chiru
Meret Petitat-Berli
Kristina Degener
Bettina Seifert
Robert Rosenberg
Svetozar Subotic
Emanuel Burri
Anne Leuppi-Taegtmeyer
Frank Zimmermann
Vanessa Muri-John
Marianna Javier-Gonzalez
Andreas Zeller
Heinz Unger
Integrating Geriatric Care in Clinical Oncology Practice: Recommendations from an Interdisciplinary Professional Survey Study in a Single-Cancer Center in Switzerland.
healthbook TIMES. Oncology Hematology
title Integrating Geriatric Care in Clinical Oncology Practice: Recommendations from an Interdisciplinary Professional Survey Study in a Single-Cancer Center in Switzerland.
title_full Integrating Geriatric Care in Clinical Oncology Practice: Recommendations from an Interdisciplinary Professional Survey Study in a Single-Cancer Center in Switzerland.
title_fullStr Integrating Geriatric Care in Clinical Oncology Practice: Recommendations from an Interdisciplinary Professional Survey Study in a Single-Cancer Center in Switzerland.
title_full_unstemmed Integrating Geriatric Care in Clinical Oncology Practice: Recommendations from an Interdisciplinary Professional Survey Study in a Single-Cancer Center in Switzerland.
title_short Integrating Geriatric Care in Clinical Oncology Practice: Recommendations from an Interdisciplinary Professional Survey Study in a Single-Cancer Center in Switzerland.
title_sort integrating geriatric care in clinical oncology practice recommendations from an interdisciplinary professional survey study in a single cancer center in switzerland
url https://doi.org/10.36000/hbT.OH.2023.16.106
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