Determining what matters most to older adults with cancer is integral to delivery of age-friendly care. Although international evidence demonstrates substantial benefits of doing so, this does not happen routinely in practice1. This is Me (TiM) is a novel Australian co-designed self-report tool addressing functional/physical/emotional health; comorbidities; cognition; social inclusion; preferences for quality or quantity of life; It enables older adults to communicate with their cancer team about what matters most to them.
Prior to dissemination of TiM resource for use in routine practice, we consulted older adults to revise wording and content to ensure it is fit for purpose.
A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews. Eligible consumers (patients/carers) were recruited from Melanoma, Multiple Myeloma (MM), Lower Gastrointestinal (LGI) services at a tertiary cancer centre. Modified Cognitive Interviewing techniques (CI) of verbal probing and think aloud approaches2-4 explored interpretation of each resource item. Data were analysed using qualitative manifest content analysis to inform resource revision.
Ten consumers (4 MM/6 LGI) participated across two rounds of CI (9 Patients/1 Carer). Words identified with most ambiguity were diet and medications. The time frame ‘In the last six months’ regarding possible events e.g. falls/weight loss was considered too lengthy. Response options in the ‘What’s important’ domain required refinement to indicate more clearly its focus on what matters most to people. Instructions for completing TiM, including how the information could be used, were recommended.
TiM items were refined to align with consumer preferences and intent of the resource. Brief instructions were developed to support its use in practice. Further research is warranted to determine feasibility of TiM to prompt discussion of what matters most to older adults in clinical contexts. A national survey is underway exploring multidisciplinary cancer clinicians’ views of TiM as a component of usual care.