Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment: The Belgian Experience of Implementation in the Care of Older Adult Patients With Cancer

International organizations, such as the International Society of Geriatric Oncology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, recommend integrating comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) into the care of older adult patients with cancer. Geriatric screening and assessment, which are part of the CGA process, detect many geriatric problems related to all geriatric domains, predict survival and toxicity, and influence treatment decisions.

AT A GLANCE

• The Belgian experience shows that the implementation of geriatric screening and assessment, and the integration of geriatric recommendations and interventions, remains a challenge in daily oncology practice.
• The implementation of GA delivers meaningful information for healthcare providers in daily oncology practice.
• Although the benefits of GA are well known, identified key barriers for a systematic implementation are high workload, not enough time, and financial or staffing issues.