No accrual

This pilot clinical trial studies an educational brochure in preparing patients with gastric cancer and their caregivers for recovery after surgery. Giving an educational brochure may help prepare patients and their caregivers by improving knowledge about symptoms after surgery. It may also improve quality of life and reduce worry after surgery.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To pilot test an educational intervention in the form of a teaching brochure to prepare patients and informal caregivers for recovery following partial or total gastrectomy.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To describe preliminary effect of the intervention on patient-reported outcomes (PROs), informal caregiver-reported outcomes, and clinical/system outcomes.

OUTLINE: Participants are enrolled sequentially to 1 of 2 cohorts.

COHORT I: Participants receive standard post-operative care.

COHORT II: Participants receive a 2-page educational brochure after surgery and prior to discharge home.

After completion of study, participants are followed up for approximately 2 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients will be accrued using the following inclusion criteria:

  • Scheduled to undergo partial or total gastrectomy for treatment of gastric cancer
  • Able to read and understand English

• Informal Caregivers will be accrued using the following inclusion criteria:

  • The primary informal caregiver as identified by patients participating in the study; this refers to either a family member or friend who will be providing the majority of care following surgery
  • Able to read and understand English

• All participants must have the ability to understand the willingness to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subjects, who in the opinion of the investigator, may not be able to comply with the safety monitoring requirements of the study