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Clinical Assessment of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Patients and Older Adults
Published on: November 7, 2014
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How to implement a geriatric assessment in your clinical practice.
Schroder Sattar1, Shabbir M H Alibhai1, Hans Wildiers1
1Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine and Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
The Oncologist
|September 5, 2014
Summary
Geriatric assessment (GA) is recommended for older adults with cancer to optimize treatment and identify issues. This review details GA implementation in oncology, covering tools and challenges for better patient care.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Oncology
- Clinical Practice Guidelines
Background:
- Cancer predominantly affects older adults, a population with complex health needs.
- Comorbidities, functional decline, and polypharmacy significantly impact cancer treatment risks and benefits in the elderly.
- International guidelines recommend geriatric assessment (GA) for older cancer patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define geriatric assessment (GA) in the context of cancer care for older adults.
- To provide guidance on implementing GA into daily clinical oncology practice.
- To review commonly utilized GA tools and strategies.
Main Methods:
- This is a review article.
- It synthesizes information on the definition, implementation, and tools of geriatric assessment in oncology.
- It discusses key considerations and challenges for clinical practice.
Main Results:
- Geriatric assessment (GA) helps tailor cancer treatment and uncover hidden medical, functional, and psychosocial issues.
- Key implementation factors include resource availability, patient selection, tool choice, and follow-up care.
- Challenges include access to geriatric expertise, patient burden, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
Conclusions:
- Geriatric assessment is crucial for optimizing cancer care in older adults.
- Successful implementation requires careful planning regarding resources, patient needs, and collaborative care models.
- Addressing identified issues through targeted interventions improves patient outcomes.
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