Work

Preferences for treatment outcomes in rectal cancer: A discrete choice experiment among patients and healthy volunteers

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: AIM: Treatment for rectal cancer can leave patients with a permanent stoma or bowel dysfunction. In this work we aimed to examine preferences for treatment outcomes among people with and without rectal cancer. METHOD: Our discrete choice experiment examined the effect of risk of cancer recurrence, presence of a stoma and bowel dysfunction on treatment preferences in 372 rectal cancer patients without a stoma, 269 with a stoma and 204 people without cancer. RESULTS: Predictors of treatment preferences differed significantly between all groups (p < 0.0001). Avoiding a stoma was more important to stoma-naïve groups, while avoiding bowel dysfunction was more important to those with superior function. Reducing the risk of recurrence was valued highly, and equally, across the groups. CONCLUSION: Experience of a stoma or bowel dysfunction resulted in higher tolerance of those treatment outcomes. Hearing from patients living with different treatment outcomes could help prepare newly diagnosed patients, and facilitate informed decision-making where patients have a choice.

Source: Colorectal Disease

DOI: 10.1111/codi.70021

Authors: Anne Miles, Robert James Campbell Steele, Gemma Hutton, Stephen Morris

Institutions: Birkbeck, University of London, University of Dundee, University of Cambridge

Language: English

Topic: Colorectal Cancer Surgical Treatments

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,480