Analysis of Age-Friendly Cancer Care Readiness

Objectives: Cancer care attuned to meeting the needs of older adults is imperative to ensure that they receive appropriate levels of treatment in accordance with their goals of care. Achieving age-friendly systems and geriatric-competent workforces require rethinking current models of cancer care delivery. This article reports on a descriptive study on the readiness of U.S. cancer programs to provide age-friendly cancer care.

Sample & Setting: A survey was sent to 567 ambulatory oncology leaders in the United States. Of the 81 respondents, 61 answered all questions.

Methods & Variables: The authors developed and administered an online survey assessing cancer programs’ age-friendly cancer care practices and readiness. Survey questions were based on the elements of the 4Ms framework. Results were analyzed using frequencies and percentages for categorically measured survey items and measures of central tendency for continuously scaled survey items.

Results: 67% of respondents reported that their program could deliver age-friendly cancer care within five years. Respondents less frequently indicated that they employed specific 4Ms elements: medications (41%), mobility (32%), mentation (14%), and what matters (11%).

Implications for Nursing: The results of this study suggest gaps in readiness to implement age-friendly cancer care. Recommendations to improve readiness include increasing awareness, expanding workforce preparation, and improving cancer program leadership engagement.