Acceptability of a practical geriatric assessment intervention with older adult cancer survivors and community health workers/promotoras: a qualitative investigation.

purposeDetermine the acceptability of a community-based, practical Geriatric Assessment (GA) intervention among community health workers (Promotoras) and cancer survivor key informants. Promotora-delivered health assessment, education, and social support models of care are feasible and effective in chronic disease management, but more evidence is needed in the cancer survivorship context. Promotoras function as a bridge, connecting community-based services with populations with historically limited healthcare engagement.

methodsDescriptive qualitative design. We held focus groups with promotora key informants and interviews with older cancer survivor consultants, between January and February 2024. Researchers developed a semi-structured interview guide, informed by conceptual models and an implementation framework, to facilitate perceptions of promotora-guided interventions, GA, and cancer survivorship. Researchers performed content analysis with deductive and inductive techniques on transcribed interviews.

resultsAcceptability of the GA intervention was described by promotoras and cancer survivor consultants within three distinct categories: The GA intervention employs a motivator to help address survivorship complexities; the GA intervention plans for impaired ADLs and IADLs in survivorship; the GA intervention integrates promotoras with clinical oncology care.

conclusionThe proposed implementation of a practical GA intervention by promotoras was deemed acceptable. The findings provided essential contextual data to ensure that the pilot, practical GA study can establish feasibility and preliminary efficacy.