Consensus research priorities in geriatric oncology: A Delphi study

Research priority-setting activities that meaningfully involve older adults living with or after cancer remain limited, particularly outside North America. We aimed to establish consensus on key priorities for future research in geriatric oncology survivorship.

We used the modified Delphi methodology with 60 experts by experience and profession, including older adults living with or after cancer, family members/caregivers, healthcare professionals, advocacy professionals, and academics/researchers. Fifty-five research priorities generated via qualitative interviews with older adults living with and after cancer were assessed across four Delphi rounds. Consensus was defined as ≥80% agreement using a 9-point Likert scale in early rounds and dichotomous voting in final rounds.

In the pooled analysis of the final consensus rounds, 37 research priorities achieved consensus for inclusion. The highest-ranked priorities focused on the development of treatment options for older adults (98%), decision-making (96%), raising healthcare professionals' awareness of potential cancer symptoms in older adults that require investigation (96%), clinical programs addressing rehabilitation (96%), and management of multimorbidity in cancer (96%) and outcomes related to cancer (96%) and frailty (96%).

This study provides a consensus-based framework of research priorities for geriatric oncology survivorship, grounded in the perspectives of older adults and key stakeholders. While treatment development remains a central priority, the findings also highlight the importance of research addressing decision-making, integrated care, and rehabilitation to better meet the needs of older adults living with and after cancer.