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CompletedNCT01458509Updated Sep 10, 2021

Feasibility and Psychometric Properties of Paper vs. Web vs. Automated Telephone Administration of Patient Reported Outcome Surveys

An observational study in Colon Cancer and Rectal Cancer, sponsored by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-09-10.

Sponsored by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
325
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

It can be difficult to obtain the perspective of patients who have had bowel surgery. This study is being done because the investigators are trying to find out whether patient-reported outcomes, (results reported to investigators by the patient), on a regular basis, will help the investigators provide better patient care and symptom management.

Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine if it is possible and if it is useful to their medical care for patients who have had bowel surgery to complete surveys about their symptoms on a regular basis. In this study the surveys are completed from home, by web or by telephone, every month for 6 months. The results of this study will guide the design of large research studies on cancer-related bowel function.

The purpose of this study is to develop a bowel function questionnaire for patients with colorectal cancer. The questionnaire will be used in future clinical trials to assess bowel function.

02

Conditions studied

  • Colon Cancer
  • Rectal Cancer

Keywords

  • Quality of Life
  • patient outcomes
  • questionaires
  • 11-101
03

In context

Rectal Neoplasms

1,762 studies on the registry are indexed under Rectal Neoplasms; 518 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 325 is above the median of 160 across 413 observational studies indexed under Rectal Neoplasms.

Browse Rectal Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is the lead sponsor of 1,930 studies on the registry; 328 are open to participants now.

Of its 129 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 66 (51%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Patients will be screened in colorectal surgery clinics on the 3rd floor of the MSKCC 53rd Street outpatient clinic buildings or at the Main Hospital at 1275 York Avenue or while they are an inpatients. Patients will be approached within 1-5 weeks post operatively to ensure that they can complete the first survey within the 4-6 week window.

Inclusion criteria

Aim 1:

  • Stage I-III rectal cancer
  • Post sphincter preserving surgery with restoration of bowel continuity within last 4-6 weeks at MSKCC.
  • Access to web and email from home
  • Web avidity (≥2 uses of email/week)
  • Able to read and write in English
  • Age ≥ 18

Aim 2:

  • Stage I-III colon and rectal cancer
  • Post surgical resection of primary tumor at MSKCC
  • Access to web and email from home
  • Web avidity (≥2 uses of email/week)
  • Able to read and write in English
  • Age ≥ 18

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Aim 1:

  • Metastatic disease - Auditory, visual or motor impairment that would preclude ability to use telephone and/or computer.
  • Stoma
  • Participated in Aim 2
  • Definitive SPS = Transanal Excision (TAE) or Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM)

Aim 2:

  • Metastatic disease - Auditory, visual or motor impairment that would preclude ability to use telephone and/or computer.
  • Stoma
  • Participated in Aim 1
05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
325 participants (actual)

Groups and cohorts

  • IVRS ( interactive voice response system) EASP

    Telephone Group with Nurse Intervention

    Behavioral: surveys

  • Web EASP

    Web Group with Nurse Intervention

    Behavioral: surveys

  • IVRS ( interactive voice response system) No EASP

    Telephone Group without nurse intervention

    Behavioral: surveys

  • Web No EASP

    Web Group without nurse intervention

    Behavioral: Surveys

Interventions

  • Behavioralsurveys

    IVRS: An interactive voice response system (IVRS) is an automated telephone platform. The IVRS system will allow the participant to complete the survey when they receive the call and/or to call the system within the survey window to complete the survey. In each group, administration of a survey including the BFI, PRO-CTCAE sexual function items, and QOL LASA and in each group, the survey will be conducted once a month over a six-month period. The intervention will be an email alert to study personnel (EASP). Patients randomized to EASP will receive a phone call if their bowel function by the clinical office nurse if the study personnel determine that the patient's BFI, as reported on the monthly survey, is less than 53 (lowest quartile scores). Interventions that may occur include dietary and/or medication advice at the discretion of the office staff.

  • Behavioralsurveys

    Web: Study participants will be sent an email containing a link to the web survey. The participants will click on the link and complete the survey. Study participants may also login to the web survey independent of the link received via email. In each group, administration of a survey including the BFI, PRO-CTCAE sexual function items, and QOL LASA and in each group, the survey will be conducted once a month over a six-month period. Patients randomized to EASP will receive a phone call if their bowel function by the clinical office nurse if the study personnel determine that the patient's BFI, as reported on the monthly survey, is less than 53 (lowest quartile scores). Interventions that may occur include dietary and/or medication advice at the discretion of the office staff.

  • Behavioralsurveys

    IVRS: An interactive voice response system (IVRS) is an automated telephone platform. The IVRS system will allow the participant to complete the survey when they receive the call and/or to call the system within the survey window to complete the survey. In each group, administration of a survey including the BFI, PRO-CTCAE sexual function items, and QOL LASA and in each group, the survey will be conducted once a month over a six-month period. This group will not get a phone call.

  • BehavioralSurveys

    Web: Study participants will be sent an email containing a link to the web survey. The participants will click on the link and complete the survey. Study participants may also login to the web survey independent of the link received via email. In each group, administration of a survey including the BFI, PRO-CTCAE sexual function items, and QOL LASA and in each group, the survey will be conducted once a month over a six-month period. This group will not receive a phone call.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. clinically useful to collect patient-reported data

    using electronic methods (interactive voice response system (IVRS) or web interface)

    Time frame: 6 months

  2. feasibility of electronic PRO assessment

    we define feasibility as being the completion of 4/6 surveys. A complete survey is defined as having responses to 17/24 items (70%) on the survey. The administration mode will be deemed feasible if \>=70% of patients complete 4/6 surveys.

    Time frame: 2 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. psychometric equivalence

    Relevant in colorectal cancer trials via three different modes of administration: Web, IVRS, paper. The primary interest is the psychometric properties of the total score and subscale scores of the BFI, however individual items scores will be examined as well.

    Time frame: 2 years

  2. problems people experience

    With bowel function, bladder function, and sexual function over the course of treatment for rectal cancer and to identify the types of information that would be helpful to future patients. Patients who were enrolled in Aim 1 will be asked to participate in a 30-45 minute telephone interview. A total of 20 interviews will be conducted.

    Time frame: 2 years

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
    New York, New York 10065, United States
08

References and documents

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 10, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01458509
Lead sponsor
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Oct 25, 2011
Start date
Oct 11, 2011
Primary completion
Sep 8, 2021
Completion
Sep 8, 2021
Last update
Sep 10, 2021

Study contacts

Julio Garcia-Aguilar, MD, PhD
principal investigator · Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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