The value and effectiveness of geriatric assessments for older adults with cancer: an umbrella review.

Purpose: This umbrella review aimed to summarise and synthesize the evidence on the outcomes reported and used to assess the value and or efficacy of geriatric assessments (GAs) for older adults with cancer.

Methods: Six electronic databases, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases, were searched to identify systematic reviews with or without meta-analyses that described the value or outcomes of GAs for older adults with cancer.

Results: Twenty-six systematic reviews were included, of which six included a meta-analysis of the data.

Strategies to improve research participation by older people with cognitive impairment: a systematic review.

Background And Objectives: Older people with cognitive impairment are unrepresented in clinical research. Our objective was to review evidence for strategies to support their research inclusion and participation.

Research Design And Methods: Systematic review of published reports of inclusion and participation strategies for older people with cognitive impairment in clinical research (PROSPERO CRD42020212092).

The status quo of global geriatric radiation oncology education: A scoping review.

Purpose: To identify potential gaps in geriatric radiation oncology (RO) education worldwide, as measured by geriatric oncology (GO) content within postgraduate RO training program (TP) curricula across 8 focus countries.

Methods And Materials: The need for improved education around GO is internationally recognized and is a key strategic priority of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG).Two reviewers undertook a systematic scoping review from March to September 2023.

Examining unmet needs in older adults with lung cancer: A systematic review and narrative synthesis.

Introduction: Unmet needs in the older population with cancer are complex due to aging-related health conditions. A review of unmet needs in older people with cancer showed that needs varied among different cancer types. In lung cancer, a higher incidence of geriatric syndromes and comorbidities exist compared to other cancer cohorts, impacting treatment tolerance and completion.

Implementing palliative care in hepatocellular carcinoma ambulatory clinics-study protocol for Accelerated translational research in PRImary liver CAncer (APRICA) randomised controlled palliative care trial.

Background: Integration of symptom and palliative care for people with advanced cancer is established in many tumour types, but its role in people with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been clearly defined. This study aims to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of an intervention involving a suite of strategies designed to assess and treat palliative care symptoms and needs in adult outpatients with HCC attending four New South Wales (NSW) metropolitan tertiary hospitals.

Methods: This trial will use a pragmatic cluster-based randomised-controlled design, with ambulatory HCC services as the clusters.

Prescribing of pancreatic enzyme therapy for malabsorption in unresectable pancreatic cancer: Cross-sectional survey across New Zealand and Australia.

Objective: To investigate the practices of clinicians prescribing pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) for unresectable pancreatic cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

Methods: A mixed media advertising campaign was used to recruit appropriate clinicians to complete a questionnaire that collected demographic data, information regarding prescribed medication, and awareness of PERT guidelines.

Results: The study recruited 161 clinicians, with 93 and 68 respondents from Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia respectively.

Factors influencing fidelity to guideline implementation strategies for improving pain care at cancer centres: a qualitative sub-study of the Stop Cancer PAIN Trial.

Background: The Stop Cancer PAIN Trial was a phase III pragmatic stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial which compared effectiveness of screening and guidelines with or without implementation strategies for improving pain in adults with cancer attending six Australian outpatient comprehensive cancer centres (n = 688). A system for pain screening was introduced before observation of a 'control' phase. Implementation strategies introduced in the 'intervention' phase included: (1) audit of adherence to guideline recommendations, with feedback to clinical teams; (2) health professional education via an email-administered 'spaced education' module; and (3) a patient education booklet and self-management resource.

Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Designing a Clinical Trial in Palliative Care.

The palliative care field is experiencing substantive growth in clinical trial-based research. Randomized controlled trials provide the necessary rigor and conditions for assessing a treatment's efficacy in a controlled population. It is therefore important that a trial is meticulously designed from the outset to ensure the integrity of the ultimate results.

Exploring Misconceptions of Palliative Care Among Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Pilot Study.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is a burdensome form of liver cancer with an increasing global prevalence. Emerging evidence has shown that early palliative care introduction at diagnosis of any life-limiting illness improves patient and carer outcomes. Despite this, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma usually receive palliative care late.

Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Interpreting a Clinical Trial.

Evidence-based practice is foundational to high-quality palliative care delivery. However, the clinical trials that compose the evidence base are often methodologically imperfect. Applying their conclusions without critical application to the clinical practice context can harm patients.

Support needs of Australians bereaved during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey study.

Background: COVID-19 disrupted access to bereavement support. The objective of this study was to identify the bereavement supports used by Australians during the COVID-19 pandemic, perceived helpfulness of supports used, prevalence and areas of unmet support need, and characteristics of those with unmet support needs.

Methods: A convenience sample of bereaved adults completed an online questionnaire (April 2021-April 2022) about their bereavement experiences including support use and perceived helpfulness, unmet support needs and mental health.

Patient-reported use of pancreatic enzyme replacement treatment (PERT) in pancreatic cancer in New Zealand and Australia: a cross-sectional survey study.

Purpose: This study investigated pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) use in people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in New Zealand (NZ) and Australia (AU).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey study was conducted using a mixed-media campaign to recruit people with pancreatic cancer and collect information about current PERT use. The questionnaire gathered data on participant demographics, awareness of PERT, prescribing practices and efficacy of enzyme replacement.

Unmet needs in people with high-grade glioma: defining criteria for stepped care intervention.

Background: We aimed to define levels of unmet supportive care needs in people with primary brain tumor and to reach expert consensus on feasibility of addressing patients' needs in clinical practice.

Methods: We conducted secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study of people diagnosed with high-grade glioma (n = 116) who completed the Supportive Care Needs Survey-Short Form during adjuvant chemoradiation therapy. Participants were allocated to 1 of 3 categories: no need ("no need" for help on all items), low need ("low need" for help on at least 1 item, but no "moderate" or "high" need), or moderate/high need (at least 1 "moderate" or "high" need indicated).

Survivorship Care for People Affected by Advanced or Metastatic Cancer: MASCC-ASCO Standards and Practice Recommendations.

Purpose: People with advanced or metastatic cancer and their caregivers may have different care goals and face unique challenges compared with those with early-stage disease or those nearing the end of life. These Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC)-ASCO standards and practice recommendations seek to establish consistent provision of quality survivorship care for people affected by advanced or metastatic cancer.

Methods: A MASCC-ASCO expert panel was formed.

Survivorship care for people affected by advanced or metastatic cancer: MASCC-ASCO standards and practice recommendations.

Purpose: People with advanced or metastatic cancer and their caregivers may have different care goals and face unique challenges compared to those with early-stage disease or those nearing the end-of-life. These MASCC-ASCO standards and practice recommendations seek to establish consistent provision of quality survivorship care for people affected by advanced or metastatic cancer.

Methods: An expert panel comprising MASCC and ASCO members was formed.

The perceptions of palliative care medical practitioners towards oral health: A descriptive qualitative study.

Background: Oral health problems are common, but often overlooked, among people receiving palliative care.

Aim: To better understand how oral health can be addressed in this population, this study aimed to explore the perceptions of oral health care among medical practitioners who provide palliative care to inform the development of a palliative oral health care program.

Design: A descriptive qualitative design was adopted.

Community Preferences for the Care of Older People at the End of Life: How Important is the Disease Context?

Background: Population preferences for care at the end of life can inform palliative care policy and direction. Research investigating preferences for care at the end of life has focused predominantly on the context of advanced cancer, with relatively little attention to other life-limiting illnesses that are common causes of death.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate preferences for the care of older people at the end of life in three different disease contexts.

Creating more comparable cohorts in observational palliative care studies: A proposed framework to improve applicability and replicability of research.

Background: Palliative care is characterised by heterogeneous patient and caregiver populations who are provided care in different health systems and a research base including a large proportion of observational, mostly retrospective studies. The inherent diversity of palliative care populations and the often inadequate study descriptions challenge the application of new knowledge into practice and reproducibility for confirmatory studies. Being able to define systematically study populations would significantly increase their generalisability and effective translation into practice.

Longitudinal symptom profile of palliative care patients receiving a nurse-led end-of-life (PEACH) programme to support preference to die at home.

Objectives: Tailored models of home-based palliative care aimed to support death at home, should also ensure optimal symptom control. This study aimed to explore symptom occurrence and distress over time in Palliative Extended And Care at Home (PEACH) model of care recipients.

Design: This was a prospective cohort study.

Mobile-Based Application Interventions to Enhance Cancer Control and Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

To identify and appraise mobile-based application (mAPP) interventions that have been used to support cancer control and care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Four electronic databases were systematically searched for studies that reported primary research findings related to mAPP interventions applied in oncology settings in LMICs. A narrative synthesis was performed using the Mhealth Index and Navigation Database as an analytical framework.

Recruitment of participants with pancreatic cancer to a mixed media study for optimal recruitment in an Australasian survey of pancreatic enzyme replacement.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is relatively rare and aggressive, with digestion and malabsorption issues often leading to significant weight loss. Recruitment of people with this malignancy into studies can be challenging, and innovative methods need to be explored to improve recruitment rates.

Aim: To describe a mixed media methodology and the outcomes used to recruit patients to participate in a binational survey.

Assessing Patient-Reported Outcomes in Routine Cancer Clinical Care Using Electronic Administration and Telehealth Technologies: Realist Synthesis of Potential Mechanisms for Improving Health Outcomes.

Background: The routine measurement of patient-reported outcomes in cancer clinical care using electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) is gaining momentum worldwide. However, a deep understanding of the mechanisms underpinning ePROM interventions that could inform their optimal design to improve health outcomes is needed.

Objective: This study aims to identify the implicit mechanisms that underpin the effectiveness of ePROM interventions and develop program theories about how and when ePROM interventions improve health outcomes.

The COVID-19 Pandemic: Bereavement Experiences Between Hospital and Home Deaths in Palliative Care.

Background: Australian COVID-19 public health measures reduced opportunities for people to communicate with healthcare professionals and be present at the death of family members/friends.

Aim: To understand if pandemic-specific challenges and public health measures during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted end-of-life and bereavement experiences differently if the death, supported by palliative care, occurred in a hospital or at home.

Design: A cross-sectional online survey was completed by bereaved adults during 2020-2022.