A Lay Health Worker-Led Symptom Intervention and Acute Care Use in Older Adults With Cancer: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Authors: Manali I Patel, Mila Voskanyan, Hilda Agajanian, Richy Agajanian, Yale Podnos, Arnold Milstein

This study tested whether lay health workers could help older adults with cancer by regularly checking their symptoms by phone. Patients who received these assessments had fewer emergency visits and hospitalizations, lower healthcare costs, and were less likely to use acute care near the end of life. The findings suggest that lay health worker–led symptom monitoring can improve care and reduce unnecessary hospital use.