Newsroom
Decision aid helps people with rectal cancer make tough choices
July 6, 2016
The good news about rectal cancer is that it is often curable through surgery. The bad news is that depending on which kind of surgery is performed, patients can either end up with a significant risk of incontinence or a permanent colostomy (in which the intestine is hooked up to an external bag). Drs. Dawn Stacey, Robert Wu and colleagues evaluated a patient decision aid that uses graphics and questions to help patients weigh the pros and cons of these options and make an informed decision. In a study of 32 patients, they found that the decision aid improved knowledge of the options by 38 percent and reduced decisional conflict by 24 percent. Two patients changed their minds because of the decision aid and 96 percent would recommend it to others. The study was published in Diseases of the Colon and Rectum.
Authors: Wu RC, Boushey RP, Scheer AS, Potter B, Moloo H, Auer R, Tadros S, Roberts P, Stacey D.
Funders: Physicians Service Incorporated Foundation, The Ottawa Hospital Foundation
The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care.
University of Ottawa
The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca
For further information, please contact
Jennifer Ganton
Director, Communications and Public Relations
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73325
Cell: 613-614-5253
jganton@ohri.ca