Completion of Patient-Reported Outcome Questionnaires Among Older Adults with Advanced Cancer

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Oncology
• Patient-Reported Outcomes Research
• Clinical Trial Methodology

Background:

• Systematic collection of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) is vital for reducing symptom burden and enhancing quality of life in cancer patients.
• The capacity of older adults with advanced cancer to independently complete PROs remains understudied.
• Understanding assistance needs is crucial for inclusive and effective data collection in oncology research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the extent and nature of assistance older adults with advanced cancer require to complete PROs.
• To identify factors associated with receiving assistance in PRO completion.
• To analyze temporal trends in the prevalence of assistance for PRO completion over time.

Main Methods:

• Data from a multisite cluster randomized controlled study (NCT02107443) involving geriatric assessment.
• Inclusion of 541 adults aged 70 years and older with advanced cancer, completing PROs at four time points.
• Bivariate and multivariate analyses to assess factors linked to receiving assistance.

Main Results:

• Twenty-eight percent (153/541) of older adults received assistance with PRO completion, primarily from caregivers or research staff.
• Factors associated with needing assistance included older age, lower education, impaired cognition, functional status, and hearing.
• Assistance prevalence decreased from 28% to 18% over six months, partly due to participant drop-out.

Conclusions:

• A significant proportion of older adults with advanced cancer require assistance to complete PROs.
• Offering and providing assistance is essential for the successful implementation of PRO collection in clinical settings and cancer trials.
• Addressing barriers to PRO completion can improve data quality and patient engagement in oncology care.