Evaluating decision-making for appendicitis treatment options

Treatment Individualized Appendicitis Decision-Making (TRIAD) Patient Surveys

Observational University of Washington · NCT05887414

This study is trying to see how satisfied people with appendicitis are with their treatment choices, like antibiotics or surgery, and how those choices affect their feelings about the decisions they made.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment3000 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of Washington Academic / other
Locations17 sites (Baldwin Park, California and 16 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05887414 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The TRIAD project aims to assess patient satisfaction and decisional regret regarding treatment options for appendicitis, specifically comparing antibiotics and surgery. Through cross-sectional surveys, patients diagnosed with appendicitis will provide insights into their awareness of treatment options and the decision-making process. The study will utilize the Ottawa Decisional Conflict Score to measure decisional conflict and will follow up with participants 30 days after their initial survey. The findings will inform the development of decision-support tools to enhance patient decision-making aligned with their preferences.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults diagnosed with appendicitis who are considering either antibiotics or surgery as treatment options.

Not a fit: Patients who are pregnant, immunocompromised, or have high complication risks will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could empower patients with better information to make informed decisions about their treatment for appendicitis.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown that decision-support tools can improve patient outcomes, making this approach promising but not entirely novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Any patient the clinical team feels is appropriate for considering either surgery or antibiotics for their initial appendicitis treatment

Exclusion Criteria:

* Pregnant patients
* Immunocompromised patients
* Patients with high complication risk of recurrent infections
* Evidence of severe phlegmon or walled off abscess or free air on imaging
* Septic shock
* Diffuse peritonitis
* Patients under 18 years old

Where this trial is running

Baldwin Park, California and 16 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions AppendicitisDecision Support ToolImplementationAntibioticsSurgery
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.