Exploring frailty in older adults with cancer: Journey mapping a patient-reported outcome measure
Date
2025
Authors
Kwon, Jae-Yung
Moynihan, Melissa
Webster, Catherine
Wolff, Angela C.
Horlock, Hilary
Wilson, Lorraine
Mariano, Caroline
Sawatzky, Richard
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Canadian Journal on Aging
Abstract
Frailty in older adults with cancer is complex, evolving, and often overlooked in care. This qualitative study explored how frailty is experienced and reported using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and visualized over time through journey maps. Eleven participants (65+) completed the Comprehensive Frailty Assessment Instrument (CFAI) and semi-structured interviews. Individual journey maps combined CFAI scores with personal narratives to track changes in physical, mental, and social aspects of frailty over time. While PROMs showed variability in frailty severity, narratives revealed discrepancies, such as low frailty scores despite significant treatment-related challenges. Fatigue, emotional distress, and isolation were common during treatment, with lasting impacts post-treatment. Findings suggest PROMs alone may not fully capture lived experience. Integrating narrative dialogue provides a more person-centred approach to frailty assessment and care planning.
Description
Keywords
frailty, journey maps, older adults, patient-reported outcome measures, PROMs, qualitative study, Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health
Citation
Kwon, J.-Y., Moynihan, M., Webster, C., Wolff, A. C., Horlock, H., Wilson, L., Mariano, C., & Sawatzky, R. (2025). Exploring frailty in older adults with cancer: Journey mapping a patient-reported outcome measure. Canadian Journal on Aging, 44(3), 377–384. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0714980825100196