Registry of Older Patients With Cancer

• Creation of a registry of older patients within the University of North Carolina's healthcare system [ Time Frame: 4 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  
• Completion of the Geriatric Assessment (GA) [ Time Frame: Upon subject's first visit to the clinic ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
  

• Information that would lend support for future research [ Time Frame: 3 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

  Including patterns of patient care, that would lend support for future research in the 'Carolina Senior' population who receive a confirmed diagnosis of cancer with the exception of:

  • Non-melanoma skin cancer
  • Cervical carcinoma in situ without evidence of disease
  • Prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia without evidence of prostate cancer
  
  
• Response rates of Geriatric Assessments of Carolina Senior patients and their satisfaction with the GA [ Time Frame: 2 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

  Done by measuring:

  • Percentage of patients contacted who consent to complete the GA;
  • The percentage of patients able to complete the self-administered portion of the geriatric assessment without assistance;
  • The length of time necessary to complete the geriatric assessment;
  • The variance and number of missing items;
  • The percentage of geriatric assessments that contain all three of the following items: Timed Up and Go Assessment, Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test, and healthcare professional-rated Karnofsky performance status;
  
  

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• To create a registry (to be called "Carolina Senior") of older patients with an appointment at North Carolina Cancer Hospital.
• To have these patients complete a Geriatric Assessment (GA).

Secondary

• To measure the response rates of GAs of Carolina Senior patients and their satisfaction with a GA by measuring the percentage of patients contacted who consent to complete the GA; the percentage of patients able to complete the self-administered portion of the GA without assistance; the length of time necessary to complete the GA; the variance and number of missing items; the percentage of GAs that contain all 3 of the following items: Timed Up and Go Assessment, Blessed Orientation-Memory-Concentration Test, and healthcare professional-rated Karnofsky performance status; and patient satisfaction with the questionnaire by identifying items that are distressing or too difficult to comprehend.
• To gather information, including patterns of patient care, that would lend support for future research in the 'Carolina Senior' population who receive a confirmed diagnosis of cancer (except for nonmelanoma skin cancer, cervical carcinoma in situ without evidence of disease, or prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia without evidence of prostate cancer).

OUTLINE: Patients complete a geriatric assessment, a multi-dimensional inter-disciplinary patient evaluation that includes an evaluation of a patient's functional status (ability to live independently at home and in the community), co-morbid medical conditions, cognition, psychological status, social functioning and support, medication review, and nutritional status. Patients' medical records are also reviewed. Patients' health status at 1 year is incorporated into the registry.