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Geriatric oncology in the N etherlands: a survey of medical oncology specialists and oncology nursing specialists
Author(s) -
Jonker J.M.,
Smorenburg C.H.,
Schiphorst A.H.,
Rixtel B.,
Portielje J.E.A.,
Hamaker M.E.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
european journal of cancer care
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.849
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1365-2354
pISSN - 0961-5423
DOI - 10.1111/ecc.12193
Subject(s) - medicine , geriatric oncology , oncology , geriatrics , oncology nursing , nursing , family medicine , cancer , nurse education , psychiatry
To identify ways to improve cancer care for older patients, we set out to examine how older patients in the N etherlands are currently being evaluated prior to oncological treatment and to explore the potential obstacles in the incorporation of a geriatric evaluation, using a web‐based survey sent to D utch medical oncology specialists and oncology nursing specialists. The response rate was 34% (183 out of 544). Two‐thirds of respondents reported that a geriatric evaluation was being used, although primarily on an ad hoc basis only. Most respondents expressed a desire for a routine evaluation or more intensive collaboration with the geriatrician and 86% of respondents who were not using a geriatric evaluation expressed their interest to do so. The most important obstacles were a lack of time or personnel and insufficient availability of a geriatrician to perform the assessment. Thus, over 30% of oncology professionals in the N etherlands express an interest in geriatric oncology. Important obstacles to a routine implementation of a geriatric evaluation are a lack of time, or insufficient availability of geriatricians; this could be overcome with policies that acknowledge that quality cancer care for older patients requires the investment of time and personnel.