Table 1.

Characteristics of the study sample

Characteristics of study sample	N = 112 (%)
Median age at baseline (range)	74.1 (65, 93)
65–74 years	66 (58.9)
≥75 years	46 (41.1)
Sex women	78 (69.6)
Country of birth
Canada	65 (58.0)
Europe	28 (25.9)
Africa	6 (4.5)
South America/Caribbean	6 (4.5)
Other	7 (7.1)
Marital status
Married/common-law	62 (55.4)
Widowed	25 (22.3)
Divorced/separated	19 (17.0)
Single	6 (5.4)
Level of education
0–4 years	5 (4.5)
5–8 years	19 (17.0)
9–12 years	41 (36.6)
≥13 years	47 (42.0)
Living situation
At home	108 (96.4)
Residence	3 (2.7)
Other	1 (0.9)
Living alone	45 (40.2)
Not living alone	67 (59.8)
Social support available	82 (73.2)
Who? (N = 82)
Spouse	50 (61.0)
Child(ren)	20 (24.4)
Other	12 (14.6)
Cancer diagnosis
Lung	27 (24.1)
Breast	44 (39.3)
Colorectal	20 (17.8)
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	17 (15.2)
Multiple myeloma	4 (3.6)
Cancer diagnosis is
First cancer diagnosis	101 (90.2)
Recurrence	2 (1.8)
New diagnosis, has been diagnosed in the past	9 (8.0)
Stage of disease
Stage 0–2	63 (56.2)
Stage 3–4	49 (43.8)
Extensive treatment received	45 (40.2)
Number of comorbid conditions at baseline
None	23 (20.5)
1	27 (24.1)
2	27 (24.1)
3	13 (11.6)
4+ (max 8)	22 (19.7)
ECOG PS at baseline
0 Fully active	72 (64.3)
1 Restricted in physically strenuous activities	22 (19.6)
2 Ambulatory and capable of all self-care but unable to carry out any work activities	12 (10.7)
3 Capable of only limited self-care	6 (5.4)
4 Completely disabled	0
Presence of functional limitations at baseline	38 (33.9)
Presence of IADL disability at baseline	39 (34.8)
Presence of ADL disability at baseline	12 (10.7)
Presence of mood disturbance at baseline	26 (23.2)

ADL, activities of daily living; ECOG PS, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status; IADL, instrumental activities of daily living.