Technology issues

This project assesses the feasibility and usability of the geriatric assessment platform (electronic Geriatric Assessment Platform or eGAP in 50 older patients with cancer, their caregivers, and their oncology team. Using an iterative process, we will refine the eGAP based on input from stakeholders.

A geriatric assessment is a multidisciplinary diagnostic process that can detect medical, psychosocial and functional problems not identified by routine evaluation. This can subsequently guide management of the identified problems. However, the time and resources required to incorporate a geriatric assessment into clinic visits remain the primary barriers for implementation. There is a need to increase the adoption of the geriatric assessment among general oncologists and to address the associated resource limitations. Our long-term goal is to utilize an electronic platform to facilitate completion of the geriatric assessment. This project assesses the feasibility and usability of the geriatric assessment platform (electronic Geriatric Assessment Platform or eGAP) in 50 older patients with cancer, their caregivers, and oncology providers. Using an iterative process, we will refine the eGAP based on input from stakeholders (patients, caregivers, oncologists, nurses, advanced practitioners)

Inclusion Criteria for patients:

• Age ≥65 years
• Have a diagnosis of cancer
• Able to provide informed consent
• English-speaking (because the platform is currently in English)

Inclusion criteria for caregivers:

• Age ≥21 years
• Selected by patient when asked if there is a "family member, partner, friend, or caregiver with whom you discuss or who can be helpful in health-related matters".
• Able to provide informed consent
• English-speaking

Inclusion criteria for oncologists:

• Oncologists, APPs, and nurses who care for the patient

Exclusion Criteria:

• N/A

A complete and final study protocol will be made publicly available through the University of Rochester Cancer Center Community Oncology Research Program Research Base Protocol and Data Sharing Committee. The full protocol and data will be made publicly available no later than the publication date of the study findings from the final dataset. The protocol will include a detailed description of the study population, hypotheses tested, measurement and assessment information, data definitions and codes, and the analysis plan utilized. We will be collecting identifying information. The final dataset will be stripped of identifiers prior to release for sharing. Published papers will be made available in portable document format.

The data will be available for 7 years from accrual of the first subject.