Setting a Patient-Driven Agenda for Cancer Research Priorities in Geriatric Oncology: A Qualitative Study.
Amanda Drury, Aoife O'Brien, Liz O'Connell and 6 others
PMID 37419848WHAT IT FOUND
Older adults with cancer prioritized research into symptom recognition, managing treatment side effects, and frailty over drug development.
They reported feeling unheard when clinicians conflated cancer symptoms with normal aging, and highlighted gaps in support for caregivers.
Key findings
01Participants prioritized research into early recognition of cancer symptoms, noting that pain and muscle issues were often dismissed as normal aging.
02Frailty issues like falls, delirium, and weight loss were identified by patients as new problems they tried to manage alone, with no clear systematic support from cancer services.
03Patients valued accessible nursing staff for discussing symptoms but felt support for family caregivers was insufficient.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (16 people) and predominantly consisted of individuals with haematological malignancies, limiting generalisability to solid tumour patients. The study was conducted in Ireland, so findings may not apply to other healthcare systems. Participants were mostly new to research involvement, which may influence how they conceptualised research priorities.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not treat these 42 topics as a ranked list of proven interventions. This is a qualitative study of what patients want researched, not evidence that specific clinical strategies work.