GERIATRIC PHONE FOLLOW-UP IN THE MANAGEMENT OF OLDER PATIENTS TREATED FOR CANCER: TELOG STUDY RESULTS

Abstract Introduction Geriatric assessment may require a specific follow-up implementation during oncological treatment. The main objective of our study was the nurse phone questionnaire validation, in terms of feasibility, and concordance of data collected compared to a medical geriatric follow-up (blind) consultation carried out three months after the initial assessment. Materials and methods This interventional, prospective, multi-center study has included patients aged 70 years and over, referred to geriatric consultation before receiving oncological treatment. Patients with an estimated life expectancy less than three months, unable to communicate by telephone or to complete the written consent, with an ECOG PS (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status) at four, or MMSE Results 131 patients were included with a median age of 81 years [70–95], 62.6% of women (n = 82). Phone questionnaires were completed for 78.6% of patients (n = 103) with a median duration of 12 min per call [5–37]. 95 patients have completed the study, for whom concordance was only found for IADL (Instrumental Activity of Daily Living) Medication-item. Conclusion It is important to define the profile of older patients treated for cancer who can benefit from phone follow-up. If a phone follow-up questionnaire carried out by a nurse is proven to be accurate, it would facilitate geriatric follow-up and space out consultations.