Dietary modifications for bowel dysfunction in rectal cancer survivors: The Altering Intake, Managing Symptoms (AIMS) intervention study

141 Background: Rectal cancer survivors often experience persistent long-term effects of treatment. Functional deficits, such as bowel dysfunction, are associated with poor quality of life (QOL). There is a lack of evidence-based interventions to address bowel dysfunction symptoms in rectal cancer survivors. The purpose of this abstract is to describe the development and design of the Altering Intake, Managing Symptoms (AIMS) intervention to manage bowel dysfunction in rectal cancer survivors. Methods: Survivors with stage I-III rectosigmoid colon or rectal cancer who are 6 months post-treatment, > 21 years, and English-speaking are eligible to participate. The AIMS intervention is a ten (30-40 minute) session, 4 month, telephone-based intervention delivered by trained health coaches. Outcome measures are assessed at baseline, 4 and 6 months, and include the MSKCC Bowel Function Tool, the COH-QOL-CRC, and adherence to cancer survivorship diet guidelines. Results: Based on the Chronic Care Self-Management Model (CCM), the AIMS intervention applies social cognitive theory to improve self-efficacy and self-management of bowel symptoms by coaching survivors to modify their diets to attenuate symptoms and enhance diet quality. Motivational interviewing-based behavioral approaches are applied, such as goal setting, self-monitoring, identification of barriers, and problem-solving. Monitoring of diet health involves review of 24 hour dietary recalls in conjunction with food and symptom diaries to promote survivor-directed behavior change resulting in improved bowel health. Conclusions: The AIMS intervention is among the first and few to address diet behavior changes for symptom management in rectal cancer survivors. It has the potential to positively impact the quality of long-term rectal cancer survivorship by integrating classic behavior change theories for cancer symptom management. Findings from the study will inform the design and development of future multi-institutional Phase II and III randomized trials. Clinical trial information: NCT03063918.