Mobile Ostomates Resources for Patients and Caregivers (MORE)

Mobile Ostomates Resources Intervention for Patients and Caregivers

The scope of this research is to examine the acceptability and feasibility of a refined web-based intervention ("STOMA Care" app) by conducting a randomized pilot consisting of bladder and colorectal cancer patients scheduled for ostomy surgery at Mount Sinai Health System and their primary caregivers. This study aims to explore the impact of the app on stoma-related knowledge and beliefs, patient stoma-care skills and self-efficacy beliefs, and self-regulation and adaptation (e.g., distress and quality of life) among patients and their informal caregivers.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Colorectal Cancer; Bladder Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: STOMA Care web-based application; Other: Usual Care

Detailed Description

The MORE study was designed guided by the Individual and Family Self-Management Theory to facilitate adaptation to stoma care within three key patient and caregiver unmet need domains: 1) enhancement of knowledge and beliefs (e.g., outcome expectations), 2) enhancement of ostomy-care competencies (e.g., learning skills and building confidence), and 3) enhancement of self-regulation (e.g., stress management). Content for these domains is organized in a web-based app (STOMA Care) accessible on any smart-phone (e.g., Android and iOS), tablet, or computer device and consist of: 1) provision of information through text, and graphics; 2) videos of physicians and nurses answering questions; and 3) videos of patients describing their experiences and modeling competencies. Program software was developed in collaboration with the Information Technology Department at Mount Sinai. A usability testing with 11 patients, caregivers, and nurses showed high acceptability and usability of MORE and led to refinements of the program software. In this proposed pilot study, the research team plan to examine the acceptability and feasibility of the refined MORE in bladder and colorectal cancer patients with new ostomies and their family caregivers. Results from this pilot study will inform a large randomized clinical trial (RCT) of MORE with ostomy patients and their caregivers. Here researchers aim to: Aim 1: Examine the acceptability and feasibility of the refined MORE: The research team will conduct a pilot, randomized, feasibility study with 45 bladder and colorectal cancer patients scheduled for ostomies at Mount Sinai Health System and their family caregivers. The primary outcomes of interest will be measures of feasibility and acceptability of MORE. Feasibility will be evaluated based on the ability to recruit and randomize participants (patient/caregiver dyads) to the two treatment arms (MORE vs. usual care), retain participants for the entire duration of the study period, apply appropriate methods for assessment and implement the program in a diverse, urban ostomy patient population and their family caregivers. Pre- and post-surgical secondary outcomes measured by standardized scales (1 week before surgery; day of discharge, and 4 weeks post-discharge) for the following variables will be used to estimate effect size for powering a larger future RCT: stoma-related knowledge and beliefs, patient stoma-care skills and self-efficacy beliefs, and self-regulation and adaptation (e.g., distress and quality of life). The research team hypothesize that MORE will be acceptable and feasible, will improve patient and caregiver knowledge, stoma-care skills, and quality of life, and will reduce their emotional distress.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 26
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • New York
    • New York, New York, United States, 10029
      • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients undergoing ostomy surgeries for bladder or colorectal cancer;
• Age 21 or older
• Physically and mentally able to consent and participate
• Access to a phone
• Able to speak/read/write English
• Has an informal/family caregiver (age 21 or greater) willing to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with metastatic cancer, cancer recurrence, or presence of other cancers
• Not able to speak/read/write English

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: STOMA Care; Patients and the caregivers accessing the full MORE program on the secured Website. The patients and caregivers will be instructed on how to complete the 1 week (or upon discharge) and 4 week surveys via REDCap or through the RC. This group has additional requirements in the 4-week survey to assess the helpfulness of the Stoma Care app.	Other: STOMA Care web-based application; The STOMA Care App, with program software developed in collaboration with the Information Technology Department at Mount Sinai, is organized in a web-based app accessible on any smart-phone (e.g., Android and iOS), tablet, or computer device and consist of: 1) provision of information through text, and graphics; 2) videos of physicians and nurses answering questions; and 3) videos of patients describing their experiences and modelling competencies 4) mental health, support group, and ostomy supplier resources.; Other Names: STOMA Care
Active Comparator: Usual Care; Patients and caregivers will NOT be given access to the web-based app and outpatient clinic will provide ostomy care if requested by all patients with ostomies per their regular care.	Other: Usual Care; Patients and caregivers NOT given access to the web-based application.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of participants recruited	Feasibility will be evaluated based on the research team's ability to recruit participants.	Duration of study (5 weeks)
Number of participants retained for entirety of the study	Feasibility will be evaluated based on the research team's ability to recruit participants retain participants for the entire duration of the study period, apply appropriate methods for assessment and implement the program in a diverse, urban ostomy patient population and their family caregivers.	Duration of study (5 weeks)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Stoma/Ostomy Knowledge Questionnaire	This questionnaire assesses respondents' knowledge of standard ostomy care procedures (reaction to stoma, removing the stoma appliance, measuring the stoma diameter, adjusting the size of the stoma diameter in a new stoma appliance, skin care, fitting a new stoma appliance, and emptying procedure). Minimum score = 0, Maximum score = 21. A higher score indicates higher skill in ostomy care with less dependence on an ostomy nurse.	Duration of study (5 weeks)
Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ)	This questionnaire assesses five cognitive illnesses. Responses to the items can be grouped into categories such as stress, lifestyle, etc. to measure respondents' perception of illness. Subscale scores range from 1-10. Minimum score= 0, Maximum score= 80; higher scores indicate worse illness perception. Eight items in addition to a causal scale graded on a five-point Likert scale.	Duration of study (5 weeks)
The General Self-Efficacy Scale	This scale assesses a general sense of perceived self-efficacy, predicting respondents' ability to cope with daily hassles and adaptation after stressful life events. Minimum score = 10, Maximum score = 40; higher scores indicate higher self-efficacy.	Duration of study (5 weeks)
Adapted Quality of Life Questionnaire for Patients with an Ostomy	Questions adopted from the Quality-of-Life Scale, respondents will elaborate on their difficulties in stoma care, surgery and treatment-related goals, then indicate whether they have achieved their goals and how satisfied they are with their achievement. For each item, 0 = worst outcome/negative QOL and 10 = best outcome/positive QOL. A total QOL score is obtained by adding the scores on all 10-point items and dividing by the total number of items (43). Minimum score = 0, Maximum score = 10. Higher scores indicate a general better quality of life among ostomates.	Duration of study (5 weeks)
Number of nurse home visits		Duration of study (5 weeks)
Number of visits to emergency room		Duration of study (5 weeks)
Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI-18) Score	Brief Symptoms Inventory (BSI-18) will measure respondents' distress symptoms. The assessment contains three six-item scales for measuring somatization, depression, anxiety, and the Global Severity Index (GSI). Respondents rate items on a scale from "Not at all," indicating low psychological distress, to "Extremely," indicating high psychological distress in that area. Thus, higher responses of "Extremely" across the scales signify greater distress in that area being measured. Subscale scores range from 1-5. Minimum score = 0, Maximum score = 90; higher scores indicate more distress.	Duration of study (5 weeks)
Quality of Life Questionnaire for Patients with an Ostomy	This 43-item scale assesses the psychological, social, and spiritual wellbeing of respondents, graded on a 0-10 scale in which 0 reflects very poor quality in that area and 10 is the best. Total quality of life (QOL) is calculated by adding the scores on all of the 10-point items. Minimum score = 0, maximum = 430. Higher scores indicate a better quality of life.	Duration of study (5 weeks)
Unmet Needs	This measure assesses respondents' needs including psychological, physical, informational, daily living, patient care, and sexuality needs. Respondents may choose one of five possible responses to all 33 questions ranging from "No need" to High need". Minimum score = 1, Maximum score = 165. Higher need answers indicate greater unmet needs.	Duration of study (5 weeks)
Satisfaction with Care/Communication	This measure assesses satisfaction with care and communication between cancer in patients with hospital-based care and their care team, caretakers, and significant others. Respondent's report how much each of 11 statements apply to them within the past month using the five responses ranging from "Not much" to "Very much". Minimum score = 1, Maximum score = 55. Higher responses of "very much" indicate low satisfaction.	Duration of study (5 weeks)
Symptom Measures	Symptoms of pain, fatigue, anxiety, and depression will be reported as a composite score, measured using five questions with scales ranging from 0 (none) to 10 (the worst imaginable) as well as the impact that these symptoms have on respondents' quality of life measured using three questions with scales ranging from 1(none) to 5 (very great impact. Full composite score from 5 to 40 A higher score indicates more adverse physical and psychological symptoms experienced and poorer quality of life as a result of the symptoms.	Duration of study (5 weeks)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Collaborators: University of Washington
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Nihal Mohamed, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): June 16, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): March 7, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): March 7, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 8, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 27, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): December 6, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): September 25, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 22, 2025
• Last Verified: July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Male Urogenital Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Intestinal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Digestive System Neoplasms; Digestive System Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Intestinal Neoplasms; Rectal Diseases; Colonic Diseases; Urologic Neoplasms; Urinary Bladder Diseases; Colorectal Neoplasms; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms
• Other Study ID Numbers: STUDY-22-00556

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: YES
• IPD Plan Description: In addition to being used to complete this research study, personal information (such as, name, address, date of birth, social security number), study data, may also be used and shared for additional (future) research. Before anything is shared, identifying personal information will be removed and it will be replaced with a code. Researchers are not planning on giving you the details of any of this future research nor the results. If patients do not want any future research to be done with your data and/or samples, even with identity removed, they will not be included in this study.
• IPD Sharing Time Frame: The data will become available after ICF is signed and will be available and does not expire.
• IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type: STUDY_PROTOCOL; ICF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No