Skip to main content
2025 ASCRS Annual Scientific Meeting Main banner
Final Program


Visit ASCRS U
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Presentation Icons
CME
CME
Invitation/Ticketed Event
Invitation/Ticketed Event
Invited Lectureship
Invited Lectureship
Award Recipient
Award Recipient
Self-Assessment
Self-Assessment
Social
Social
Industry
Industry
Back

Session: Abstract Session: Rectal and Colon Cancer

P203 - Exploring Self-Management Strategies: A Qualitative Analysis of Lives Affected by LARS through an Online Peer-Support Forum in a Multi-Center RCT

Sunday, May 11, 2025
1:00 PM – 1:06 PM PT
Location: Ballroom 6B, Upper Level

    Abstract Podium Presenter(s)

  • Jeongyoon Moon, MD

    Colorectal Fellow
    Cleveland Clinic
    Cleveland, OH, United States

    All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
    This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.

    • Author(s)

  • HM

    Haroon Munir, MD

    General Surgery Resident
    McGill University
    Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • SS

    Sarah Sabboobeh, MSc

    Research Associate
    Jewish General Hospital
    Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • MD

    Marie Demian, MSc

    Research Associate I
    Jewish General Hospital
    Montreal, Quebec, Canada

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • OM

    Olivia Monton, MD

    General Surgery Resident
    McMaster University
    Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • AS

    Allister Smith, MD

    General Surgery Resident
    Western University
    London, Ontario, Canada

    Disclosure information not submitted.

  • FR

    Fateme Rajabiyazdi, P.Eng., PhD

    Researcher
    Carleton University
    Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Disclosure information not submitted.

    • Senior Author(s)

  • Marylise Boutros, MD (she/her/hers)

    Colorectal Surgeon
    Cleveland Clinic Florida
    McGill University
    Weston, Florida, United States

    All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
    This individual has no relevant relationships with ineligible companies.

    • Submitting Author(s)

  • Marylise Boutros, MD (she/her/hers)

    Colorectal Surgeon
    Cleveland Clinic Florida
    McGill University
    Weston, Florida, United States

    All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
    This individual has no relevant relationships with ineligible companies.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed below have been mitigated.
Jeongyoon Moon, MD: This individual has no financial relationships with ineligible companies.
Marylise Boutros, MD: This individual has no relevant relationships with ineligible companies.
Image or Table (Do Not add text here):

Purpose/Background: Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS) describes chronic debilitating bowel dysfunction following rectal cancer surgery and is associated with poor quality of life (QoL). Conservative self-management strategies are the first-line treatment for LARS. The aim of this study was to explore the interests and needs among rectal cancer survivors living with LARS.

Methods/Interventions: We utilized text data generated by participants through an exclusive online LARS App that we had previously created, and successfully tested in a multicenter (5 sites) randomized controlled trial (RCT), to provide virtual education (illustrated educational text and videos) and online peer support on conservative self-management strategies for LARS patients. Data analyzed from the App included forum posts, chat night transcripts and video comments. Posts were created by participants, peer mentors and healthcare providers (HCPs). Using an affinity diagram approach, 2 reviewers independently identified themes in the compiled texts. The themes were then re-organized with guidance from a qualitative expert.

Results/Outcomes: In total, 45 participants (mean age 64.5±10, 53.3%female) with LARS (66.7% major LARS) made 2,363 logins to the App over 3 months. Twenty-five videos on various topics related to LARS were available for participants on the App, which generated 36 comments. One hundred eighty-three forum posts were made, and 2,026 views were recorded on the forum. Four live chat nights were held, throughout which 567 live messages were exchanged. Of a total of 786 posts and messages exchanged through the App, 112 (14.2%) were made by HCPs, and the rest by participants and peer mentors. Thematic analysis revealed 7 themes and 27 subthemes (Figure 1), highlighting contributions from both peers and HCPs on self-management strategies:1) Diet: use and benefit of food diaries, trigger foods, benefit from various foods rich in fiber (peers) and probiotics, fiber supplements, and personalized dietary guide with help of a nutritionist (HCPs); 2) Coping strategies: sense of humor, finding peace with acceptance of ‘new normal’ function (peers) and managing expectations and recognition of the toll LARS can have on one’s mental health (HCPs); 3) Medication and perianal skin care: preparing one’s own kit with various medication and pads (peers), use of barrier cream, and titrating anti-motility agents according to symptoms (HCPs); 4) Transanal irrigation (TAI): initial reluctance to try TAI, learning to perform TAI from peers online, significant improvement in bowel function following TAI (peers); 5) Pelvic floor physiotherapy: external massage to aid relaxation, exercises to help strengthen mind-body connection, leading to improvement in continence; 6) Gratitude: for the education provided through the App, desire to become future peer mentors and support people who are newly struggling with LARS (peers); 7) Benefits of peer support: sharing of knowledge and sense of community found through peer support are empowering and provide hope.

Conclusion/Discussion: This qualitative analysis of a peer support forum for LARS highlighted the lived experience and unmet needs among rectal cancer survivors actively pursuing self-management strategies for LARS. The themes uncovered in this work can be used to guide patients with LARS and to plan future supportive interventions for this population.