Aims:
Geriatric assessment, including physical fitness and function (PFF), is crucial for informing care decisions and enhancing patient-centred care. However, due to workforce shortages, especially in rural and remote contexts, assessment of PFF can be challenging to implement in geriatric oncology practice.
This review seeks to investigate the feasibility, clinical utility, and implications of using wearable digital technology for at-home PFF assessment of older adults diagnosed with cancer in rural and remote areas.
Methods:
A systematic literature search was performed in CINAHL, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science for English language publications from the previous 10 years investigating the use of wearable digital technology for assessment of PFF in older adults. Two reviewers will independently perform title and abstract screening, full article review and data extraction. Study inclusions are older adults (65+ years) and devices measuring physiologic or kinetic data. Case studies, systematic reviews, conference proceedings, grey literature, and studies covering bespoke or non-portable devices shall be excluded.
Data extraction includes basic article metadata, participant details, assessment details, and outcomes, device validity and reliability, and qualitative feedback on device use.
A realist synthesis framework will be used to identify context-mechanism-outcome patterns, followed by thematic analysis to understand the effective elements of the devices and use in the assessment of PFF in older adults.
Results:
Work on this review is currently underway with extraction and analysis of search results (N=4,762) expected by early October.
Conclusions:
Physical fitness and functional assessments are important in cancer care; however, implementation remains a challenge, warranting consideration of home-based digital solutions. The findings of this review will present evidence for the use of digital assessments in older populations and the implications this has for geriatric oncology, whilst informing the selection of a suitable wearable digital device for further research in rural and remote geriatric oncology services.