Ostomy Telehealth For Cancer Survivors
Condition: Colostomy Stoma
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The purpose of this study is to test the benefits of an educational program, the Ostomy
      Self-Management Training (OSMT) program, for improving patient activation (preparedness to do
      self-care), self-efficacy (patients' ability to do self-care), knowledge of ostomy/urostomy
      self-care, quality of life, mood, use of medical services, and financial burden in patients
      with ostomies. The study will compare patients in the intervention (training) group and
      patients in the usual care group.

      Subjects' participation in this study is expected to last about 7 months. The PI plans to
      enroll up to 176 subjects at 3 hospitals (University of Pennsylvania, Yale University School
      of Nursing, and City of Hope in Los Angeles). All patient telehealth education will be
      coordinated by the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.
    

Detailed description: 
      Over one million individuals in the U.S. have ostomies. The American Cancer Society estimates
      39,610 rectal cancer cases and 74,000 bladder cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2015. Of
      these, at least 30,000 will receive ostomies, and an additional unknown number due to
      gynecologic, other gastrointestinal tumors. The HRQOL impact is tremendous and greater than
      with many other cancer treatments. An ostomy is often a prolonged or lifelong disabling
      problem for cancer survivors. The adaptation period is quite variable. 18% of participants
      took at least one year, or never felt comfortable, in their ostomy care. Importantly, many
      patients cannot attend selfmanagement programs or patient groups for a myriad of reasons,
      including distance to travel, monetary outlays, comorbidities making travel difficult, or
      lack of access to transportation. In addition, a national shortage of OCNs means patients
      with an ostomy, whether newly placed or a long-term issue, receive little help.

      It is imperative to study interventions for these cancer survivors aimed to limit family
      financial burdens, decrease medical care use, and improve well-being. This study has the
      potential to improve health care outcomes for cancer survivors with ostomies by enhancing
      their knowledge of and self-efficacy with ostomy care. This will be accomplished by improving
      the ability to communicate an established educational curriculum developed based on patient
      needs and desires and refined via a pilot study.
    

Intervention name(s): Ostomy self management training
Intervention type(s): Other
Intervention description(s): Ostomy Self management Training group in which subject will learn using pouches and equipment, skin care, ostomy complications, nutritional needs, Impact on feelings, clothing changes, social relationships, being prepared for emergencies, Intimacy and sexuality, communication skills, tips for travelling and physical activity recommendations
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Health Services Research
Keywords: Ileostomy