Understanding patient priorities for survivorship care in older adults with cancer: A collaborative study by the Young Interest Group of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology.

Abstract

e13789 Background: Integrating patient priorities into survivorship care for older adults with cancer is increasingly recognized as essential, yet little is known about how healthcare professionals (HCPs) across disciplines currently assess and incorporate these priorities into survivorship decision-making. We sought to assess HCPs' practices and contextual factors influencing the integration of patient priorities into survivorship care of older adults. Methods: This project, undertaken by the Young Interest Group of the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (YSIOG) Collaboratory Group, uses a mixed-methods, explanatory sequential design to understand how HCPs use patients’ priorities to guide survivorship care. In the quantitative phase of the study, from November 2025 to January 2026, we administered an international survey to HCPs through geriatric oncology networks—including Cancer and Aging Research Group (CARG) and International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG)—and via national geriatric oncology representatives. Descriptive statistics summarize survey results, including participant characteristics, patterns across clinical roles, workflow practices, and perceived challenges. Results: Data were collected and analyzed from 178 HCPs practicing in 31 different countries. Respondents included oncologists/hematologists (69.5%), geriatricians (13.0%), nurses/nurse practitioners (9.2%), and other clinicians, with over half reporting > 10 years of experience treating older adults. Nearly 90% currently provide survivorship care, most commonly managing late adverse events/toxicities (74%), conducting surveillance (71%), and addressing psychosocial concerns (48.9%). While 96.2% rated integrating patient priorities as “very” or “extremely important,” only 48.1% reported “often” or “always” discussing priorities during survivorship visits, and only 46% reported the utilization of formal tools to assess them (e.g. geriatric assessment, goal setting framework). Major barriers were time constraints (79.4%), lack of training (54%), system-level challenges (40.5%), and patient-related factors (31.0%). Facilitators included interdisciplinary teamwork (84.1%), institutional support (65.1%), use of structured tools (61.1%), and patient/caregiver engagement (70.6%). Conclusions: Clinicians across disciplines recognize the importance of integrating patient priorities into survivorship care, however, they face substantial workflow and system-level barriers. These preliminary results will be examined in a second phase of the study through qualitative interviews with HCPs to inform future implementation strategies focused on supporting priorities-aligned survivorship care.