(HealthDay News) — The telehealth-administered Geriatric Assessment–Guided Intervention (GAIN-S) improves physical function, mood, quality of life and prognostic understanding among older patients with metastatic cancer, according to a study published online in the June issue of the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network.

Cristiane Decat Bergerot, PhD, from Oncoclinicas & Co – Medica Scientia Innovation Research in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and colleagues conducted a randomized clinical trial enrolling adults aged ≥65 years with metastatic cancer between June 2022 and July 2023 to examine the impact of the telehealth-adapted GAIN-S. Eighty patients were randomly assigned to receive usual care or GAIN-S (40 in each arm). In the GAIN-S arm, an intervention plan based on impairments identified through geriatric assessment was developed by a multidisciplinary team; the plan included targeted referrals to psychiatry, social services, nutrition, supportive care and certified fitness training over a three-month period.

The researchers found that patients in the GAIN-S arm showed significant improvements in physical function (instrumental activities of daily living, +1.8), mood (Geriatric Depression Scale, −2.7), quality of life (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General, +13.2) and symptom burden (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, −14.6) at three months. Significantly more accurate prognostic understanding was also demonstrated by patients in the intervention arm.

“By bringing supportive care approaches to patients at the beginning of their cancer care journey, we can significantly improve the experience, communication, and outcomes of patients’ lives,” Decat Bergerot said in a statement.

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