Improving Communication in Older Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers

OBJECTIVES: I. Primary Aim - Direct Communication about Age-related Concerns: To determine if providing GA summary plus GA-driven recommendations to patients, their caregivers, and oncology physicians increases discussions about age-related issues during clinic consultation. \[Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) specified\] II. Primary Aim - Patient Satisfaction with Communication about Age-related Concerns: To determine if providing geriatric assessment (GA) summary plus GA-driven recommendations to patients, their caregivers and oncology physicians improves patient satisfaction with communication with the oncology physician regarding age-related concerns. \[National Cancer Institute (NCI) specified\] III. Secondary Aim - To determine whether initially providing patients, their caregivers, and oncology physicians with GA summary plus GA-driven recommendations prior to their treatment influences quality of life of older patients receiving treatment and their caregivers. IV. Secondary Aim - To determine whether providing patients, their caregivers, and oncology physicians with GA summary plus GA-driven recommendations influences caregiver satisfaction with communication about age-related issues. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. Arm I: At the first study visit with their oncologist, patients and their caregivers (if participating) complete the GA and receive the GA summary plus GA targeted recommendations which is provided to the oncology team to discuss and implement if they so choose. Arm II: At the first study visit with their oncologist, patients and their caregivers (if participating) complete the GA (no GA summary or recommendations are provided). Patients are followed at 4-6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. Survival data will be collected at 1 year after enrollment.