journal articles
WHAT ARE THE GAP BETWEEN GERIATRICIANS AND ONCOLOGIST? A SURVEY OF DOCTOR AWARENESS OF MEDICAL CARE AMONG ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH CANCER IN SOUTHWEST CHINA
L.-X. Wang, Z.M. Meng, S.S. Nie, B. Xiang, J. Li, Q.Q. Sun, H. Qin, Y.L. Gong, C.C. Pan, C.Yi, Y.X. Yang, S. Wang
J Aging Res Clin Practice 2015;4(4):190-196
Objectives: Old patients with cancer are a great challenge to physicians. This study investigated the similarities and differences in the respective opinions of geriatricians and oncologists with regard to clinical practice among elderly patients with cancer in south west China. Design, Setting, Participants and Measurements: Doctors from five local public hospitals of Sichuan were surveyed with a questionnaire via face-to-face interview. The ratio of geriatricians to oncologists’ was1:1. The questionnaire addressed respondents’ demographic characteristics and was composed of 11 multiple-choice questions and a clinical scenario. Results: The respondents included 64 oncologists and geriatricians, respectively. More than forty percent participants believed that current treatments were under-treatment. «Opinion of family members» was the top one reason for under-treatment in both groups, more oncologist choice «comorbidity» as cause of insufficient treatment than geriatricians (p=0.001). Age (57.03%) was the fifth effect factor impacting on treatment decision except for physical function (81.25%), comorbidity (71.09%) and cancer itself. Physical function, comorbidity and age between 65-84, geriatrician and oncologist did have different attitude. Conclusions: The attitude to physical function and comorbidity were the main difference between geriatrician and oncologist for their clinical decisions. A workshop should be set up to optimize the treatment proceedings.
CITATION:
L.-X. Wang ; Z.M. Meng ; S.S. Nie ; B. Xiang ; J. Li ; Q.Q. Sun ; H. Qin ; Y.L. Gong ; C.C. Pan ; C.Yi ; Y.X. Yang ; S. Wang (2015): What are the Gap between Geriatricians and Oncologist? A survey of Doctor Awareness of medical care among elderly patients with cancer in Southwest China. The Journal of Aging Research and Clinical Practice (JARCP). http://dx.doi.org/10.14283/jarcp.2015.71