Improving recovery and quality of life after ostomy surgery for older adults

Improving Biopsychosocial Outcomes of Older Adults Undergoing Fecal Ostomy Surgery

Early Phase 1 Interventional Massachusetts General Hospital · NCT07424586

This pilot tests a web-based geriatric assessment program to help adults age 65+ recover and maintain quality of life after ileostomy or colostomy surgery.

Quick facts

PhaseEarly Phase 1
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment16 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorMassachusetts General Hospital Academic / other
Locations1 site (Boston, Massachusetts)
Trial IDNCT07424586 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This early-phase interventional pilot is testing the Geriatric Assessment Strategy for Ostomy Management and Adaptation (GA-STOMA) for acceptability and usability in older adults undergoing fecal ostomy surgery. Participants are patients age 65 and older who are having ileostomy or colostomy surgery, together with their clinicians, and the intervention is delivered via a web-based platform with perioperative follow-up in the days after surgery. The study will collect usability and acceptability data along with biopsychosocial and patient-centered recovery outcomes to inform refinements. The work is being conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital and is intended to determine whether the intervention is easy to use and feasible before larger trials.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults age 65 or older who are scheduled for a fecal ostomy (ileostomy or colostomy), can complete consent and web-based interactions, and are receiving care at the study site, along with their clinicians.

Not a fit: Patients with cognitive impairment that prevents completion of consent via the teach-back method or those not treated at the study site are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from this pilot.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the program could improve early recovery and quality of life after ostomy surgery by providing tailored biopsychosocial support to older patients.

How similar studies have performed: Web-based and geriatric assessment interventions have shown promise improving post-surgical and quality-of-life outcomes in older adults more broadly, but few prior studies have specifically targeted older patients receiving new fecal ostomies, so this application is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients Age 65+ years
* clinicians age 18+ years
* Patients undergoing fecal ostomy surgery and their clinicians

Exclusion Criteria:

* cognitive impairment not allowing completion of consent procedures based on the teach-back method.

Where this trial is running

Boston, Massachusetts

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 Ostomy - Ileostomy or Colostomyostomyquality of lifebiopsychosocial outcomesweb-based intervention
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.