Clinical Trial: Attitudes Towards Prophylactic Colectomy in Hereditary Non-polyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC) Patients

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational

Official Title: Attitudes Towards Prophylactic Colectomy in HNPCC Patients

Brief Summary: The purpose of this study is to learn more about individual's with a family history of colon cancer and the process by which they may decide to undergo or not undergo prophylactic colectomy. This is a surgery to remove the colon in order to reduce risk of cancer (or of getting cancer again).

Detailed Summary: Hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is associated with up to an 80% lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer and a 40-50% chance of a metachronous tumor after partial colectomy for the disease. For these patients, prophylactic colectomy has been proposed as a potential risk management alternative to a lifetime of intensive surveillance by colonoscopy. The highly personal nature of such risk management decisions has been recognized in the development of individualized genetic counseling services. However, prior psychosocial research in this area has tended to use linear statistical techniques in which clinically important details are lost in an overly broad, one size-fits-all model that is difficult to apply in a one-to-one counseling session. We propose an innovative approach based on the Cognitive-Social Health Information Processing (C-SHIP) model in which we will explore how attitudes towards prophylactic colectomy are organized into meaningful patterns or types that can translate readily into tailored counseling recommendations. Specific aims of this study are: 1)to assess levels of intention in prophylactic colectomy among HNPCC patients; 2)To identify distinctive decision types based on profiles of perceived pros and cons of prophylactic colectomy; and 3) To explore the pattern of relations between decision types and counseling-related outcomes (level of intention in colectomy, cancer-specific anxiety, and colonoscopy adherence). We will conduct a one-time cross-sectional telephone survey of 320 HNPCC patients (defined as either carriers of a mutated mismatch repair gene associated with HNPCC or those with a personal/family history meeting published criteria for HNPCC). Using cluster analysis we will create a taxonomy of decision types. Prior research leads us to expect at least three types: Disengaged, Risk-Focused, and Ambivalent. We hypothesize that each type will have a different pattern of relations with the outcome variables (e.g., Ri
Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Current Primary Outcome: To assess levels of intention in prophylactic colectomy among individuals at increased familial risk of colorectal cancer and to identify distinctive decision types based on profiles of perceived pros and cons of prophylactic colectomy; [ Time Frame: 12 months ]

Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

Original Secondary Outcome:

Information By: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Dates:
Date Received: December 21, 2007
Date Started: November 2004
Date Completion:
Last Updated: December 9, 2009
Last Verified: December 2009