IMPlementation of a sUpport program for Long-term cancer Survivors in older Age
Cancer survivors in older age
Current interventions as of 28/08/2025: Participants will be randomized into one of the two arms: 1. IMPULS-A program: participants undergo a screening every 6 months to assess their needs and willingness for support. If needs are identified, appropriate counseling/treatment options will be recommended, and participants will be assisted with referrals, primarily to existing services close to their home. Complex cases are reviewed by an interdisciplinary Survivor Board. 2. Treatment as usual (control intervention): participants receive the current standard treatment for long-term survivors. This means that some of the participants will also use support services, but will not be systematically and individually informed about them. Participants are randomised in a 1:1 ratio into the two groups. The randomisation is stratified by age (< or ≥ 80 years), sex, and time since (first) cancer diagnosis (< or ≥ 5 years). Randomisation will be done using REDcap (a web application for building and managing online surveys and databases). _____ Previous interventions: Participants will be randomized into one of the two arms: 1. IMPULS-A program: participants undergo a screening every 6 months to assess their needs and willingness for support. If needs are identified, appropriate counseling/treatment options will be recommended, and participants will be assisted with referrals, primarily to existing services close to their home. Complex cases are reviewed by an interdisciplinary Survivor Board. 2. Treatment as usual (control intervention): participants receive the current standard treatment for long-term survivors. This means that some of the participants will also use support services, but will not be systematically and individually informed about them. Randomisation will be done using REDcap (a web application for building and managing online surveys and databases).
Inclusion criteria for patients: 1. Expected life expectancy >3 years as assessed by the treating oncologist 2. Increased support needs 3. Ability to give consent 4. Written informed consent Inclusion criteria for relatives: 1. A person named by the patient as a relative who knows about the cancer 2. Minimum age ≥18 years 3. Ability to give consent 4. Written informed consent Inclusion criteria for practitioners: 1. Belonging to the professional group of doctors, psychologists, physiotherapists, and sports scientists 2. Actively involved in patient care 3. Ability to give consent 4. Written consent
Exclusion criteria for patients: 1. Patients who can no longer care for themselves 2. Insufficient knowledge of written and spoken German 3. Factors that foreseeably severely restrict adherence to treatment (e.g. dementia and/or severe cognitive impairment, significant hearing and/or visual impairment) Exclusion criteria for relatives: Insufficient knowledge of written and spoken German