Effectiveness and Feasibility of Home-Based Palliative Care Interventions for Geriatric Oncology Patients: A Systematic Review Using Narrative Synthesis

Abstract

Background Due to an urgent need to develop palliative care services for geriatric patients with advanced cancer, an overview of available information regarding home-based palliative care interventions would be valuable. Aim To summarize current literature for interventions targeted to homebound, older patients with incurable cancer, and investigate whether these patients can be benefited from home-based palliative care and achieve improved outcomes. Design A search strategy consisting of terms related to home care, palliation, oncology, and geriatrics was employed. A protocol following PRISMA guidelines was prospectively uploaded at PROSPERO (ID = CRD42023404675). Data sources Pubmed (MEDLINE), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), ClinicalTrials.gov , and Epistemonikos.org databases were searched from inception until the present day. Eligibility criteria were selected based on the research question, the population of interest, and the research design. The Risk of Bias Assessment Tool version 2 (RoB-2) was used to appraise study quality. Results A total of 10 articles including 871 patients (out of 1236 titles and 141 fully-reviewed texts) were selected. Four studies assessed exercise interventions, two evaluated multi-component home-care models, two focused on supervision services, and two had nutrition and activity components. Eight studies reported improved outcomes in either specified or mixed cancer geriatric populations. Conclusions There is a scarcity of clinical trials regarding home-based palliative care for geriatric oncology patients, resulting in poor information and a lack of evidence. At-home interventions seem feasible and have a positive effect on pain management and functional status, but more high-quality studies are required.