2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer (Posters)-P2.25. Resiliency among Older Adults Receiving Lung Cancer Treatment (ROAR-LCT): A Novel Pilot Supportive Care Intervention Study

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The study aimed to determine the feasibility of a supportive care intervention for older adults with advanced lung cancer. The intervention consisted of physical therapy and progressive muscle relaxation. The goal was to improve survival and quality of life for these patients, who often have a high symptom burden that limits their ability to seek additional care. The intervention targeted physical capability and negative mood symptoms such as anxiety and depression. Participants were evaluated by physical therapists and psychologists and given exercise equipment and relaxation recordings to use at home. The intervention included both in-person and virtual sessions. The study was supported by various grants and the participation of patients was greatly appreciated.<br /><br />The study sample consisted of adults over the age of 60 who had been diagnosed with advanced non-small cell or small cell lung cancer and were receiving treatment at a cancer center. To ensure the intervention's fidelity, participants were asked to indicate their location and answer safety questions before each virtual session. Feasibility was defined as 60% of participants completing 70% of all intervention sessions. The results showed that 81.8% of consented patients started the intervention and 61.1% completed at least 70% of the study visits. This indicated that the supportive care intervention was feasible for older adults with advanced lung cancer. It also demonstrated that virtual physical therapy programs can be safely conducted in various settings based on patient convenience.<br /><br />Some of the patient characteristics and physical therapy assessments were presented in the document. The study participants had a median age of 72 and the majority were male and white. The most common patient-reported limitations included decreased strength, fatigue, shortness of breath, and balance problems. The baseline comorbidities included chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, diabetes, and neuropathy. Virtual visit locations varied, with living rooms and dining rooms being the most common. Overall, the participants had high levels of functional impairment, mobility disability, and oxygen use.<br /><br />In conclusion, the study showed that the novel supportive care intervention was feasible for older adults with advanced lung cancer. The use of virtual health allowed for convenience and safety, and the intervention was well-received by the participants. This study contributes to the growing body of research on supportive care interventions for cancer patients, specifically targeting the unique needs of older adults.

Asset Subtitle

Carolyn Presley

Meta Tag

Speaker Carolyn Presley

Topic Multidisciplinary Care: Supportive Care

Keywords

supportive care intervention

older adults

advanced lung cancer

physical therapy

progressive muscle relaxation

survival

quality of life

symptom burden

physical capability

negative mood symptoms