Comprehensive assessment of older people with cancer
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of a comprehensive geriatric assessment tool in older people with cancer(COP - Cancer in Older People tool)
IRAS ID
211761
Contact name
Danielle Harari
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 2 days
Research summary
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ease of use, acceptability, usefulness and effectiveness of a comprehensive assessment questionnaire in people aged 70+ with cancer. This Cancer in Older People tool (COP) has been developed in a national Expert Reference Group for Older People with Cancer (consisting of patients and healthcare professionals), to be tested in NHS cancer services. COP is a brief patient questionnaire asking about physical function, social support and wider medical problems that may affect how people cope with cancer and related treatment. The information people provide on this questionnaire can then be discussed with the cancer specialists when decisions around cancer treatment are being made so that any extra needed support can be arranged. How acceptable this questionnaire is to patients, and how real life NHS cancer services adapt to using COP will be measured by evaluation questions and observed usage. The aim of COP is to improve care of older people as they undergo cancer treatment, and the effect on patient outcomes will be obtained from observation of routine hospital records. Improvement measures undertaken by clinical teams to better use COP within their routine practice (e.g. switching from paper to computer version) will be encouraged and documented. This work is funded by Macmillan Cancer Support and results will inform wider NHS care for older people with cancer
REC name
West Midlands - Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/WM/0506
Date of REC Opinion
16 Dec 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion