Individual Abstract within a Delegate Designed Symposium 2025 Joint Meeting of the COSA ASM and IPOS Congress

Australian adaptation of geriatric specific psychotherapy resources for older adults with cancer (126369)

Kirsty Galpin 1 , Sharon He 1 , Joanne Shaw 1 , Haryana Dhillon 1 , Lisa Beatty 2 , Mariko Carey 3 , Michelle Kelly 4 , Agatha Conrad 5 , Amelia Bartczak 3 , Christian Nelson 6 , Brian Kelly 3
  1. Psycho-Oncology Cooperative Research Group (PoCoG), The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  2. Psychology and Social work, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
  3. School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  4. School of Psychological Science, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  5. Hunter New England Mental Health Service, School of Medicine and Public Health College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
  6. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre, New York, NY, United States of America

Objectives/Purpose: Depression is common amongst older adults with cancer, with up to 27% experiencing depressive symptoms. The USA-developed CARE (Cancer and Aging: Reflection for Elders) psychotherapy telephone-delivered intervention addresses the unique needs of older people (≥70 years) managing ageing, depression, and a cancer experience. We reviewed and tailored the CARE patient workbook/resources to the Australian context and explored acceptability of the telephone-based intervention.

Sample and setting: Older Australians (≥70 years) diagnosed with cancer (n=20), interviewed via videoconferencing software.

Procedures: Using qualitative semi-structured cognitive ‘think aloud’ interviews, participants reviewed the wording, phrases, and examples in the patient workbook/resources and provided feedback on relevance, acceptability, and understandability for older Australians. Interviews were analysed using content analysis.

Results: We completed 20 cognitive interviews. Participants had a mean age of 74 years (range 70–79), most were female (65%, n=13), and had a diagnosis of blood (55%, n=11) or breast cancer (45%, n=9) within the last 10 years. Six (30%) had sought support from a mental health professional. A third (30%) resided in regional and rural/remote areas. Resource content resonated with participants. Most found telephone delivery acceptable. Participants emphasised simplifying wording and modifying technical language to include those with lower literacy. Feedback noted some activities appeared metropolitan-focused and should reflect rural/regional settings. In Australia, ‘Elders’ is a cultural term used by First Nations peoples to identify a custodian of knowledge; most participants suggested alternatives (e.g., elderly, senior). Some found the analogy of ageism to racism unfamiliar.

Conclusion and clinical implications: Cultural adaptation of psychological treatments improves feasibility and acceptability in a new setting. This process emphasised the importance of inclusive and contextually relevant resources for older adults with cancer and depression. Tailoring the patient workbook/resources will inform an Australia-wide CARE intervention trial.