Experiences With an Intervention Based on Geriatric Assessment With Management: A Qualitative Study.
May Ingvild Volungholen Sollid, Line Melby, Marit Slaaen and 3 others
PMID 40223637WHAT IT FOUND
Older patients and cancer nurses described structured symptom assessments and early, regular nurse contact as reassuring and useful.
Some found weekly calls too frequent, scales hard to use, and workload prevented planned follow-up.
Key findings
01Eight patients and eleven cancer nurses described three themes: systematic approach, patient-centeredness, and regular and professional contact.
02Patients and cancer nurses said systematic symptom assessment helped them notice and reflect on health problems, but some found rating scales hard to use.
03Early and regular cancer nurse contact was described as reassuring, but workload sometimes prevented planned follow-up.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Only eight patients were interviewed, and the paper says the desired number of participants was not attained. Patients who agreed to interviews may have been less frail than those who declined. The COVID-19 pandemic changed the planned intervention and interview format. The interview guides were not pilot tested. Transcripts were not returned to participants, and participants did not review the findings. The study reports experiences, not measured effects.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The work was funded by Sykehuset Innlandet HF and Stiftelsen Dam.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that geriatric assessment with management improves patient outcomes. It reports experiences from eight patients and eleven cancer nurses after an intervention, not a controlled comparison of effects.