Understanding Needs of Older Patients Prior to Starting Cancer Treatment

Enrolling by invitation · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm, Malignant Solid Neoplasm

In brief

A geriatric assessment (GA) is a structured approach to identifying and addressing the strengths and vulnerabilities of older adults with cancer. They can improve the quality of cancer care for older adults and lower side effects. It is recommended a GA be administered prior to the start of non-hormonal systemic therapy for all older adults. Despite these guidelines, only a small percentage of practices report administering them. The practical geriatric assessment (PGA) was developed to help oncology practices perform GAs. It aims to provide a brief way to evaluate older patients' physical health along with other important things like support network and impact to the patient's daily life. Typically, clinics do not receive extra training on delivering the PGA. Providing training and support for staff at cancer clinics may help deliver the enhanced PGA to older adult cancer patients who are starting a new-hormonal systemic therapy. This clinical trial looks at whether providing training and support for staff at cancer clinics can help them deliver patient check-ups (e.g., PGA) specifically designed for adults \>= 65 years old (older adults) starting a new non-hormonal systemic cancer therapy. The usual approach clinics use when starting these cancer therapy courses with an older adult may vary considerably.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07225920

Run by

Wake Forest University Health Sciences

People needed

216

Starts

2026-01-14

Expected to finish

2027-12-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-08

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• PART 1 ONCOLOGY CLINICIANS: Must be an oncology clinician (MDs, DOs, APPs (e.g. NP, PA)) who administers systemic therapy (chemotherapy, immunotherapy or targeted therapy).
• PART 1 ONCOLOGY CLINICIANS: Must be involved in the planning or delivery of new systemic therapies (e.g. chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy) to patients including those >= 65 years old
• PART 1 ONCOLOGY CLINICIANS: Must be willing to participate in a semi-structured interview (approximately 60 minutes; remotely over the internet or by phone)
• PART 1 ONCOLOGY CLINICIANS: Concurrent participation in URCC-19170 is allowed, not required
• PART 1 ONCOLOGY CLINICIANS: Must be able to read, understand and speak English
• PART 1 ONCOLOGY SUPPORT STAFF STAKEHOLDER: Nurse, practice manager, or other oncology support staff who work with oncology clinicians who provide systemic therapy, help with office workflows for patient screeners, or help patients with referrals (including patients age 65 or older). May include staff that have a dual role in research and clinical support
• PART 1 ONCOLOGY SUPPORT STAFF STAKEHOLDER: Must be willing to participate in a semi-structured interview (approximately 60 minutes; remotely over the internet or by phone)
• PART 1 ONCOLOGY SUPPORT STAFF STAKEHOLDER: Concurrent participation in URCC-19170 is allowed, not required
• PART 1 ONCOLOGY SUPPORT STAFF STAKEHOLDER: Must be able to read, understand and speak English
• PART 1 PATIENT STAKEHOLDER: >= 65 years of age
• PART 1 PATIENT STAKEHOLDER: Must have initiated a new line of chemo-/immuno- and/or targeted therapy in the last 12 months
• PART 1 PATIENT STAKEHOLDER: Must be willing to participate in a semi-structured interview (approximately 60 minutes; or remotely over the internet or by phone)
• PART 1 PATIENT STAKEHOLDER: Concurrent participation in URCC-19170 is allowed, not required
• PART 1 PATIENT STAKEHOLDER: Must be able to understand and speak English
• PART 1 CAREGIVER STAKEHOLDER: Must self-report as having cared for a patient 65 years or older who initiated systemic treatment (e.g. chemo-, immuno- and/or targeted therapy) in the last 12 months. To allow for differences in how the term "caregiver" is used, we will include any family member, significant other, or friend who helps during their cancer treatment, regardless of whether they define themselves as a caregiver
• PART 1 CAREGIVER STAKEHOLDER: Must be willing to participate in a semi-structured interview (approximately 60 minutes; remotely over the internet or by phone)
• PART 1 CAREGIVER STAKEHOLDER: Concurrent participation in URCC-19170 is allowed, not required
• PART 1 CAREGIVER STAKEHOLDER: Must be able to understand and speak English
• PART 2 PRACTICE: Must be an National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) practice (defined as one or more NCORP affiliates/sub-affiliates, which have a common administrative structure and share providers and/or patients)
• PART 2 PRACTICE: Must provide outpatient oncology care to at least 50 new patients aged 65 or over starting a new non-hormonal systemic therapy in the past 6 months
• PART 2 PRACTICE: Must have received an Introductory Email with a Practice Identification (ID) to be used to enroll the selected affiliate/sub-affiliates in Oncology Patient Enrollment Network (OPEN)
• PART 2 PRACTICE: Concurrent participation in URCC-19170 is allowed, not required
• PART 2 CLINIC CHAMPION: Must be employed in one of the selected clinics participating in the Part 2 Pilot Study
• PART 2 CLINIC CHAMPION: Must not be planning to leave their position in the next 9 months
• PART 2 CLINIC CHAMPION: Must provide care for or interact with patients age 65+ or provide administrative leadership over one of the selected clinics participating in the Part 2 Pilot Study

Where it is running

• Lewis and Faye Manderson Cancer Center — Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States
• Mercy Hospital Fort Smith — Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States
• NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital and Fowler Family Cancer Center - Jonesboro — Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States
• MaineHealth Maine Medical Center- Scarborough — Scarborough, Maine, United States
• Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Brighton — Brighton, Michigan, United States
• Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Canton — Canton, Michigan, United States
• Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology - Chelsea Hospital — Chelsea, Michigan, United States
• Trinity Health Saint Mary Mercy Livonia Hospital — Livonia, Michigan, United States
• Trinity Health IHA Medical Group Hematology Oncology Ann Arbor Campus — Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States
• Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Golden Triangle — Columbus, Mississippi, United States
• Baptist Cancer Center-Grenada — Grenada, Mississippi, United States
• Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Union County — New Albany, Mississippi, United States
• Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Oxford — Oxford, Mississippi, United States
• Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Desoto — Southaven, Mississippi, United States
• Novant Health Cancer Institute - Kernersville — Kernersville, North Carolina, United States
• Wake Forest NCORP Research Base — Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
• Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Collierville — Collierville, Tennessee, United States
• Baptist Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center-Memphis — Memphis, Tennessee, United States
• Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women — Memphis, Tennessee, United States
• ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center — Appleton, Wisconsin, United States
• ThedaCare Cancer Care - New London — New London, Wisconsin, United States
• ThedaCare Cancer Care - Oshkosh — Oshkosh, Wisconsin, United States
• ThedaCare Cancer Care - Shawano — Shawano, Wisconsin, United States
• ThedaCare Cancer Care - Waupaca — Waupaca, Wisconsin, United States
• Doctors Cancer Center — Manati, Puerto Rico

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

Trial information comes from ClinicalTrials.gov and is refreshed daily. TrialsForMe does not provide medical care and does not run the studies it lists.