Towards Personalized Care Pathways for Bowel Symptoms in Rectal Cancer Patients Through Precision Medicine

What this Trial Is About

Rectal cancer is a common form of colorectal cancer affecting both women and men, with about 40% of cases located in the rectum. The standard treatment typically involves low anterior resection combined with chemoradiotherapy, but this can lead to persistent bowel problems that impact quality of life. Recently, organ-preserving approaches like the Watch and Wait strategy have become more common, though radiotherapy alone may still cause lasting bowel dysfunction. This study aims to develop and validate a comprehensive electronic bowel diary to better diagnose and evaluate all bowel symptoms experienced by these patients. The study includes several phases such as patient focus groups, expert and patient Delphi surveys, and usability testing of the bowel e-diary application available on smartphones. Patients who have undergone rectal cancer surgery or are managed with the Watch and Wait approach will use the e-diary for seven consecutive days across two distinct periods. The study will assess content validity, usability, reliability, and responsiveness of the diary to capture bowel symptoms accurately. Participants will engage in interviews, complete questionnaires, and use the e-diary to record bowel symptoms over defined periods. Researchers will measure the diary's clarity, user-friendliness, and effectiveness using tools like the System Usability Scale. The study will also explore the types and severity of bowel symptoms in patients following different treatment paths. The total study duration for these assessments is 12 months, during which patient feedback and expert input will help refine the bowel diary for broader clinical use.

Personalized Care Pathways for Bowel Symptoms in Rectal Cancer patients_development of E-diary