Development and feasibility assessment of telephone-delivered supportive care to improve outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer: pilot study of the CONNECT intervention.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to describe a pilot study of the feasibility, acceptability and likely impact of a nurse-delivered, telephone intervention to reduce unmet need and improve quality of life for surgical patients with colorectal cancer.


METHODS
The CONNECT intervention comprises five standardised calls over 6 months commencing on day 3 post-discharge. A prospective non-randomised control trial with patients who had surgery for colorectal cancer at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney between July and December 2006 was conducted. Patients completed a telephone interview with an independent researcher at 1, 3 and 6 months to assess study outcomes, including unmet need (Supportive Care Needs Survey), psychological distress and quality of life (FACT-C). Patients' views of the intervention were ascertained.


RESULTS
Forty-one patients participated, 20 in the intervention period. Intervention calls were successfully completed with 85% or more of patients at each of the five time points. Mean call duration ranged from 14-19 min with the highest number of needs (27 for 20 patients) identified on day 3. Patients indicated that the timing of the calls was appropriate and the majority (85%) felt the number of calls was sufficient. There were promising trends in outcomes. For both patient groups, there were clinically meaningful improvements in FACT-C scores over time, with a larger improvement in the intervention group (20.4 points) than the control group (11.7).


CONCLUSIONS
The CONNECT intervention was found to be feasible and acceptable to patients. A larger randomised trial is underway to establish its effectiveness to improve patient outcomes.
Young
Jane
J
Surgical Outcomes Research Centre, University of Sydney and Sydney South West Area Health Service, PO Box M157, Missenden Rd, Sydney, NSW 2050, Australia. jyoung@email.cs.nsw.gov.au
Harrison
James
J
Solomon
Michael
M
Butow
Phyllis
P
Dennis
Rebecca
R
Robson
Daine
D
Auld
Sally
S
D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome