Poster Presentation 2025 Joint Meeting of the COSA ASM and IPOS Congress

The RecoverEsupport Program: A digital health intervention to support colorectal and breast cancer patients prepare for and recover from surgery - study protocol for 2 RCTs. (126542)

Rebecca Wyse 1 , Emma Sansalone 1 , Alison Zucca 1 , Priscilla Viana Da Silva 1 , Erin Forbes 1 , Anna Palazzi-Parsons 1 , Kristy Fakes 1 , Mariko Carey 1 , Sally Johnston 2 , Owen Morris 3 , Mitch Duncan 1 , Chris Oldmeadow 4 , Steve Smith 1 2
  1. The University of Newcastle, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia
  2. Surgical Services, The Calvary Mater Newcastle, Waratah, NSW, Australia
  3. The Calvary Mater Newcastle, Waratah, NSW, Australia
  4. Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia

Background/rationale: Approximately 80% of all cancer patients will require surgery. Faster surgical recovery may mean that patients can access treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy sooner, and may improve quality of life and wellbeing. ‘Enhanced Recovery From Surgery’ (ERAS) guidelines are evidence-based recommendations that are internationally endorsed. They include patient-led behaviours to reduce post-surgical complications and length of hospital stay, such as early mobilisation, and rapid resumption of feeding and fluids, and breathing and physiotherapy exercises. However, patients need support to adhere to these guidelines, and a digital health intervention (DHI) may be an effective and scalable solution. In response, we co-designed the RecoverEsupport intervention (with researchers, clinicians and patients). RecoverEsupport consists of a website and SMS/email prompts to encourage patient self-management using evidence-based behaviour change strategies such as information provision, goal setting, skills training, behavioural self-monitoring and feedback, and prompts and cues. This presentation describes protocols for 2 RCTs evaluating the effectiveness of the RecoverEsupport intervention for colorectal and breast cancer patients.

Methods: Patients are currently being recruited from pre-operative appointments and pre-surgical lists and are randomised (1:1 ratio) to receive usual perioperative care (control) or RecoverEsupport (intervention). Outcomes include: Length of Stay, Quality of Life (EORTC QLQ-C30), Quality of Recovery (QoR15), emergency department admissions, adherence to ERAS guidelines, and health care costs. Data is collected from medical records and from patient online surveys.  

Impact on practice: Preliminary data suggests the rates of adherence to the ERAS behaviours are higher in the intervention vs control group. If effective, the RecoverEsupport intervention could be rapidly scaled up and/or adapted for other cancer surgeries.

Discussion: Both trials have generated learnings for future trials of DHIs. Specifically, the intervention was well-received by intervention patients, but the support person function was under-utilised.

  1. Offodile, Anaeze C., et al. "Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways in breast reconstruction: systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature." Breast cancer research and treatment 173 (2019): 65-77
  2. Gustafsson, U. O., et al. "Guidelines for perioperative care in elective colonic surgery: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS®) Society recommendations." World journal of surgery37 (2013): 259-284.
  3. Temple-Oberle, Claire, et al. "Consensus review of optimal perioperative care in breast reconstruction: enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) society recommendations." Plastic and reconstructive surgery 139.5 (2017): 1056e-1071e.