Improving 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) Continuous Infusion Comfort With a New Corset Design in People Affected by Cancer (RCT)

December 19, 2025 updated by: EZGI BILMIC, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Improving 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) Continuous Infusion Comfort With a New Corset Design in People Affected by Cancer: A Feasibility Study

This feasibility randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness and usability of a newly designed supportive corset for patients receiving continuous 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) infusion therapy. The corset is intended to stabilize the infusion pump and serum set, reduce physical and psychological discomfort, and improve overall quality of life. Forty colorectal cancer patients were randomized into two groups: an intervention group using the corset and a control group receiving standard care. Outcomes include infusion-related experiences (measured by Visual Analog Scale) and quality of life (assessed by EORTC QLQ-C30).

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Continuous infusion of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) via portable pumps is a common treatment modality for colorectal cancer, offering clinical benefits such as stable plasma drug levels and improved tolerability. However, patients often experience physical discomfort, restricted mobility, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and aesthetic concerns related to the infusion pump. Technical issues such as unstable connections and medication flow interruptions may further compromise treatment safety.

To address these challenges, this study introduces a newly designed supportive corset aimed at stabilizing the infusion pump and serum set during continuous 5-FU therapy. The corset is designed to enhance comfort, reduce movement-related anxiety, and improve sleep quality and overall treatment experience. This feasibility trial enrolled 40 patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer from an outpatient chemotherapy unit in Türkiye. Participants were randomized into two groups: the intervention group received the corset in addition to standard care, while the control group received standard care only.

Data were collected at baseline and after four weeks using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for infusion-related experiences and the EORTC QLQ-C30 for quality of life. The primary outcomes include changes in physical restrictions, insomnia, anxiety during movement, aesthetic concerns, and overall quality of life. Secondary outcomes include patient satisfaction with the corset. The study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Approval No: 2023-19-09) and conducted in accordance with ethical standards. Findings will inform the feasibility and potential integration of supportive physical devices into cancer care protocols.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
40

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Bakirköy
      • Istanbul, Bakirköy, Turkey (Türkiye), 34500
        • Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosed with colorectal cancer
  • Currently receiving chemotherapy
  • Having received at least one cycle of 5-FU therapy via continuous infusion
  • Volunteering to participate in the study
  • Aged 18 years or older

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosis of brain cancer (excluded due to potential impact on cognitive function and reliability of self-reported data)
  • Presence of bone metastases
  • Pregnancy and/or lactation
  • Communication barriers
  • Physician-diagnosed mental illness
  • Inability to speak or understand Turkish

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Standard of Care + Supportive Corset
Participants receive standard care plus a specially designed supportive corset during continuous 5-FU infusion.
Device: Supportive Corset
A specially designed supportive corset developed to stabilize the 5-FU infusion pump and serum set during continuous infusion therapy. It includes a body-wrapping belt, adjustable shoulder strap aligned with the port catheter, and a fluid-proof pouch for carrying the infusion pump. The corset aims to enhance comfort, reduce physical and psychological distress, and improve overall treatment experience.
Other: Standard of Care
Participants receive routine care without any additional intervention.
Other: Standard care
Routine care provided during continuous 5-FU infusion without any additional supportive device.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Physical Restrictions Score (Visual Analog Scale)
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Assessed using Visual Analog Scale (0 = never experienced, 10 = experienced very frequently). Higher scores indicate worse outcome.
4 weeks
Insomnia Score (Visual Analog Scale)
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Assessed using Visual Analog Scale (0 = never experienced, 10 = experienced very frequently). Higher scores indicate worse outcome.
4 weeks
Anxiety During Movement Score (Visual Analog Scale)
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Assessed using Visual Analog Scale (0 = never experienced, 10 = experienced very frequently). Higher scores indicate worse outcome.
4 weeks
Skin Contact Discomfort Score (Visual Analog Scale)
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Assessed using Visual Analog Scale (0 = never experienced, 10 = experienced very frequently). Higher scores indicate worse outcome.
4 weeks
Medication Flow Issues Score (Visual Analog Scale)
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Assessed using Visual Analog Scale (0 = never experienced, 10 = experienced very frequently). Higher scores indicate worse outcome.
4 weeks
Aesthetic Concerns Score (Visual Analog Scale)
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Assessed using Visual Analog Scale (0 = never experienced, 10 = experienced very frequently). Higher scores indicate worse outcome.
4 weeks
Nausea Score (Visual Analog Scale)
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Assessed using Visual Analog Scale (0 = never experienced, 10 = experienced very frequently). Higher scores indicate worse outcome.
4 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Quality of Life Score (EORTC QLQ-C30)
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Assessed using EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire (30 items). Functional scales: higher scores = better functioning; symptom scales: higher scores = worse symptoms. Range: 0-100.
4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Gülcan Bağçivan, PHD, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, United States, Department of Adult Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
April 10, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 10, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 10, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 30, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 19, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
January 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 5, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 19, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 2023-19-09

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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