Tradeoffs in Patient Decision Making About Rectal Cancer Treatment: Benefits Compared to Quality Of Life.

The primary study objective is to evaluate socioeconomic and demographic factors involved in patients' / physicians treatment preferences. The secondary objective is to assess the tradeoff level between the benefits versus quality of life.

This study will evaluate 192 participants: 14 physicians (group A) and 178 patients (group B).

Participants with operable rectal cancer or health professionals will be screened for eligibility. Subsequently, these participants will be offered to participate in this pilot study and provided a consent form. When a participant has consented to participate, he/she will be provided with a first questionnaire (socio-demographic characteristics, some clinical data and medical baseline information as well as details about their current knowledge about treatments).

An informational brochure will be given after answering the first questionnaire describing different treatment regimens, treatment duration, potential side effects and oncologic outcomes.

A second questionnaire will be provided (evaluating patients treatment preferences and tradeoff).

The consent form, brochure and questionnaires will be available only in an electronic format (Microsoft Form).

Inclusion criteria

Group A

• New rectal cancer patient
• Operable patients
• Capable adults older than 18 years of age
• Capacity to sign a consent form
• Capacity to answer questionnaires on an online platform Group B
• Treating physician specialists
• Capacity to sign a consent form
• Capacity to answer questionnaires on an online platform

Exclusion criteria

Group A:

• Patient unable to sign a consent form
• Patients with metastasis
• Recurrent tumours
• Inability to answer questionnaires on an online platform
• Inability to communicate in french or english

Group B:

• Participant unable to sign a consent form
• Inability to answer questionnaires on an online platform