RATIONALE: The use of a CD-ROM may help patients with colorectal cancer or a family history of colorectal cancer make informed decisions about undergoing microsatellite instability (MSI) testing. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying an educational CD-ROM to see how well it works compared with standard informed consent to assist decision-making about MSI testing in patients with colorectal cancer or a family history of colorectal cancer.
OBJECTIVES: Primary * Compare the impact of standard informed consent vs a CD-ROM educational intervention on knowledge about microsatellite instability (MSI) testing in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) or a family history of CRC. * Determine the impact of these interventions on patient satisfaction with the preparation to make a decision. Secondary * Determine whether the CD-ROM educational intervention has a differential impact on satisfaction with the MSI test decision, difficulty making the MSI test decision, and decisional conflict, as well as on patients' attitudes about MSI testing and CRC (e.g., perceived benefits and barriers to having the MSI test, perceived risk for colorectal and related cancers, self-efficacy), on general and cancer-related distress, and on discussions with family members about the MSI test and familial CRC risk. * Assess whether demographic factors, disease/family history characteristics, family support for testing, and cancer-related distress moderate the impact of the intervention on satisfaction with and completeness of the informed consent process. OUTLINE: This is a multicenter, pilot, study (part I) followed by a randomized study (part II). * Part I: The educational CD-ROM is developed over 9 months. Patients receive a pilot version of the CD-ROM and provide feedback regarding usability and content. * Part II: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. * Arm I: Patients complete a baseline interview and receive a standard informed consent for microsatellite instability (MSI) testing and a brief, standardized explanation of the MSI test. * Arm II: Patients complete a baseline interview and receive a standard informed consent for MSI testing and the educational CD-ROM developed in phase I. All patients in part II (even those that did not consent to the MSI test) complete a follow-up survey at 2 weeks. Tissue samples from patients are analyzed by immunohistochemistry and MSI assay (polymerase chain reaction) for MLH1 and MSH2. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 184 patients will be accrued for this study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
239
Participants in the Counseling intervention will meet with the study health educator who will provide the participant with the standard MSI informed consent form and provide a brief, standardized explanation of the MSI test. At that time, the participant can ask any questions s/he wishes to ask. The patients will either sign (or not sign, if they do not consent to have the test, or wish to think further about the decision) after this discussion. Participants who have further questions will be referred to either the attending physician or the genetics counselor at each hospital site.
Participants who are randomized to the CD-ROM condition will complete the baseline interview and then meet with the health educator who will provide the participant with the standard MSI consent form and provide a brief, standardized explanation of the MSI test. At that time, the participant can ask any questions s/he wishes to ask. Next, the participant will be provided with the CD-ROM to view on a laptop computer in the clinic. Participants will also be given a copy of the CD-ROM to take home and keep for future reference. The CD-ROM patients will sign (or not sign, if they do not consent or wish to think further about the decision) the consent form after this discussion.
Helen F. Graham Cancer Center at Christiana Hospital
Newark, Delaware, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Fox Chase Cancer Center - Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Impact of Standard Informed Consent vs CD-ROM Educational Intervention on Knowledge About Microsatellite Instability (MSI) Testing
10-item true/false MSI knowledge survey developed by the oncologists on trial. (e.g., "Microsatellite Instability is found in every person that has had cancer."; "Microsatellite Instability may be caused by a permanent change in a gene that is inherited from a person's mother or father."). Participants can score anywhere from 0 (no questions answered correctly) to 10 (all questions answered correctly).
Time frame: 2 weeks after enrollment
Differential Impact of CD-ROM on Satisfaction With MSI Test Decision, Difficulty Making Decision & Decisional Conflict; Attitude; General & Cancer-related Distress; Discussions With Family About MSI Test & Familial Colorectal Cancer Risk
Participants completed a baseline survey upon enrollment to the trial. 2 weeks after baseline, they completed a follow-up survey (assessed at both baseline and FU). Differential impact of CD-ROM on satisfaction with MSI test decision, difficulty making decision \& decisional conflict; attitude; general \& cancer-related distress; discussions with family about MSI test \& familial colorectal cancer risk were measured.
Time frame: at enrollment and 2 weeks after enrollment
Impact of Demographic Factors, Disease/Family History Characteristics, Family Support, and Cancer-related Distress on Satisfaction With and Completeness of the Informed Consent Process
Participants completed a baseline survey upon enrollment to the trial. 2 weeks after baseline, they completed a follow-up survey (assessed at both baseline and FU). Impact of demographic factors, disease/family history characteristics, family support, and cancer-related distress on satisfaction with and completeness of the informed consent process was measured
Time frame: at enrollment and 2 weeks after enrollment
Patient Satisfaction With the Preparation to Make a Decision
Participants completed a baseline survey upon enrollment to the trial. 2 weeks after baseline, they completed a follow-up survey (assessed at both baseline and FU).
Time frame: at enrollment and 2 weeks after enrollment
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