Improving Health of Patients With Colon Cancer Following Surgery: A Trial of SA-ICAN Via Videoconferencing

Improving Health of Patients With Colon Cancer Following Surgery: A Trial of SA-ICAN Via Videoconferencing

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of more frequent follow-up (by videoconference) of these patients. Videoconference is a method of communication over a distance. In this method, the patient will hear the person's voice (like on the telephone) and will see that person over video.

The study will compare more frequent follow-up of patients by videoconferencing to routine follow-up of patients. The investigators will compare each type of follow-up to see the effect on the number of times patients need to visit emergency rooms or need admission to hospitals. The study will also look at the difference between each type of follow-up on patients' quality of life and social support thirty days after hospital discharge.

The study will also measure satisfaction and acceptability of this intervention among those who had follow-ups by videoconference.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 65 or older.
• Newly diagnosed cancer.
• Referred to the geriatrics service for pre-operative evaluation before surgical resection of his/her tumor.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Inability to comprehend English.
• Deafness , measured by the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening Version (HHIE-S) [16], score equal or above 30. (appendix 5)
• Cognitive impairment (score of 0-1 in Mini-Cog Test).
• Nursing home resident.
• Planned hospital length of stay of one day or less.