Published online Apr 24, 2025. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v16.i4.104785
Revised: January 23, 2025
Accepted: March 10, 2025
Published online: April 24, 2025
Processing time: 84 Days and 17.5 Hours
With the global population aging, the care of elderly cancer patients has become increasingly complex and significant. Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), a multidimensional evaluation tool, has been widely implemented in oncology nursing to enhance the precision of treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes. This review examines the application of CGA in oncology nursing, drawing on literature published between 2010 and 2024 in major databases using keywords such as “Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment” and “Oncology Nursing”. It highlights how CGA contributes to optimizing treatment selection, monitoring the treatment process, and improving patients’ quality of life and long-term outcomes. CGA provides a comprehensive evaluation of elderly cancer patients, including physical, psychological, and social aspects, enabling the identification of high-risk patients and reducing treatment-related side effects and complications. It also offers a critical foundation for developing personalized care plans. The article discusses various practical examples of CGA implementation across different countries and regions, including multidisciplinary collaborative models in France, the United States, and Australia, demonstrating CGA’s flexible application in diverse healthcare settings. Although significant progress has been made in applying CGA in oncology nursing, numerous challenges remain in its implementation, such as resource limitations and insufficient personnel training. Future research will focus on integrating CGA with emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and precision medicine, to further improve the quality of care and treatment outcomes for elderly cancer patients. By summarizing the current status and challenges of CGA in oncology nursing, this review provides guidance for future research and clinical practice, emphasizing the importance of advancing CGA application to meet the growing demands of elderly oncology care.
Core Tip: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is crucial in optimizing oncology nursing for elderly cancer patients. CGA enables a thorough evaluation of physical, psychological, social, and functional status, allowing for more personalized treatment plans and improving patient outcomes. The integration of CGA into oncology care helps in identifying high-risk patients, reducing treatment-related side effects, and enhancing quality of life. Despite its proven benefits, challenges in implementation remain, such as resource limitations and the need for standardized procedures. Future advancements may include the integration of artificial intelligence and precision medicine to further refine CGA’s effectiveness in geriatric oncology care.