INSIGHT

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  patIeNt and healthcare professional perceptionS of mIcrobiome-based therapies to improve outcomes followinG colorectal cancer surgery: a qualitative researcH sTudy (INSIGHT)

• IRAS ID

  348499

• Contact name

  David G Jayne

• Contact email

  D.G.Jayne@leeds.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Leeds

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Introduction:
  Colorectal cancer is a significant health issue in the United Kingdom, with approximately 43,000 new cases annually. While surgery can provide a potential cure, it comes with risks such as surgical site infection and anastomotic leak.

  Recent research indicates that the gut microbiome may play a crucial role in the development of these post-operative complications. This has led to increased interest in microbiome-based therapies, including traditional bowel preparation methods and innovative approaches like 'dietary prehabilitation' and probiotics aimed at optimising the gut microbiota prior to surgery.

  To effectively design and deliver clinical trials for these therapies, it is vital to understand how patients and healthcare professionals perceive the microbiome, gut health, and these treatments. Their attitudes and experiences are key factors that influence willingness to participate in clinical trials and adhere to new treatment protocols.

  Aims:
  - Assess the knowledge and understanding of patients and healthcare professionals regarding the microbiome's role in gut health and its impact on surgical outcomes.
  - Examine the experiences and attitudes of both groups toward current microbiome-influencing therapies, such as bowel preparation, and identify areas for improvement.
  - Evaluate the willingness to consider changes to existing bowel preparation protocols and adopt other microbiome-based interventions, identifying enablers and barriers, and gauge interest in participating in a future randomised controlled trial.
  - Explore perspectives on microbiome sampling methods and their timing.

  Study Design:
  This qualitative study will recruit 20 colorectal cancer patients. A maximum variation approach will be used to capture diverse patient perspectives, considering age and sex. Semi-structured interviews will last 30-45 minutes and will take place on hospital premises or online via Microsoft Teams, based on participant preference. Additionally, 10 surgeons and healthcare professionals will be invited to participate in interviews.
  

• REC name

  East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  25/EM/0024

• Date of REC Opinion

  7 Feb 2025

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion