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Care of Cancer Patients With Bowel Injury Caused by Radiation Therapy to the Pelvis

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Cancer
Registration Number
NCT00737230
Lead Sponsor
Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Brief Summary

RATIONALE: A step-by-step procedure may help health care practitioners diagnose and treat cancer patients with bowel injury symptoms caused by radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying the care of cancer patients with bowel injury caused by radiation therapy to the pelvis.

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES:

* To undertake a systematic review of the published effectiveness of investigations and treatments for patients with radiation-induced bowel injury after pelvic radiotherapy for cancer.

* To develop a diagnostic and treatment algorithm (based on evidence \[where available\] or on expert opinion \[where there is no evidence\]) for these patients.

* To examine each test in the algorithm for its usefulness in establishing precise diagnoses for these patients within the context of a randomized clinical trial.

* To examine whether use of the treatment algorithm in delivering treatment specifically targeted for each diagnosis improves symptoms and quality of life of these patients.

* To investigate whether the same level of care can be delivered to these patients by a nurse practitioner or by a specialist consultant gastroenterologist following the same algorithm.

* To identify other symptoms and healthcare needs experienced by these patients after pelvic radiotherapy and whether there are any other unmet needs in addition to their bowel injury.

* To determine the cost-effectiveness of the investigations and treatments developed for these patients.

OUTLINE: This is a two-part, multicenter study.

* Part 1: Researchers develop a diagnostic and treatment algorithm to guide health care practitioners in the management of patients with radiation-induced bowel injury. The algorithm, which is based on a systematic literature review or expert opinion, uses a series of simple tests to establish specific diagnoses and to target treatment for managing patient symptoms.

* Part 2: Patients are stratified according to tumor site (urological vs gynecological vs gastrointestinal) and degree of bowel dysfunction as measured by IBDQ-B score \> 10 points above normal \[\< 60 vs 60-70\]). Patients are randomized to 1 of 3 intervention arms.

* Arm I (usual care): Patients receive an advice booklet on self-management of bowel symptoms. Patients whose symptoms continue 6 months after study enrollment may cross over to arm II.

* Arm II: Patients undergo diagnostic and treatment algorithm-led management of bowel symptoms by a gastroenterologist.

* Arm III: Patients undergo diagnostic and treatment algorithm-led management of bowel symptoms by a nurse practitioner.

Patients complete questionnaires about bowel symptoms and other pelvic symptoms, quality of life, and anxiety and depression at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year. Patients also complete questionnaires about cost effectiveness of the diagnostic and treatment algorithm or usual care.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
250
Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Improvement in gastrointestinal symptoms as measured by the modified IBDQ-B score, Rockwood Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life score, St Mark's Incontinence score, and the LENTSOMA score at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Quality of life as measured by the modified IBDQ and SF-12 questionnaires at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year
Anxiety and depression scores as measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year
Other pelvic symptoms (i.e., urinary function as measured by the ICSmaleSF and BFLUTSQ and sexual function as measured by the IIEF-6, ICSsex, and Jensen questionnaires) at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year
Cost-effectiveness of diagnostic tests and treatment compared to "usual care" as measured by the ED-5D questionnaire at 6 months and 1 year
Cost-effectiveness of nurse practitioner delivery of algorithm compared to gastroenterologist as measured by the ED-5D questionnaire at 6 months and 1 year
Other unmet healthcare needs as a direct result of pelvic radiotherapy

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Royal Marsden - London

🇬🇧

London, England, United Kingdom

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