The Quality Initiative in Rectal Cancer (QIRC) trial: study protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial in surgery

Marko Simunovic¹^,2^,3 , Charles Goldsmith²^,4 , Lehana Thabane²^,4 , Robin McLeod⁵ , Franco DeNardi⁶ , Timothy J Whelan²^,3^,7 and Mark N Levine²^,3^,7

¹Department of Surgery, McMaster University, St. Joseph's Healthcare, G838-50 Charlton Ave. East, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 4A6, Canada

²Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1200 Main St. W., Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada

³Juravinski Cancer Centre, 699 Concession St., Hamilton, Ontario, L8V 5C2, Canada

⁴Centre for Evaluation of Medicines, Biostatistics Unit, St. Joseph's Healthcare, 50 Charlton Avenue East, 3rd Floor Martha, Room H325, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 4A6, Canada

⁵Division of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, 600 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X5, Canada

⁶Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Henderson General Hospital, 711 Concession Street, Hamilton, Ontario, L8V 1C3, Canada

⁷Department of Oncology, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, 1200 Main St. W., Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada

author email corresponding author email

BMC Surgery 2008, 8:4doi:10.1186/1471-2482-8-4


Published:	15 February 2008

Additional files

Additional file 1:

Operative Questionnaire. Surgeons in the experimental arm completed this questionnaire after each rectal cancer surgery. The questions were designed to prompt surgeons to re-examine key total mesorectal excision operative steps.

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Additional file 2:

Bowel, Bladder and Sexual Function Questions. Questions developed for the QIRC trial to address bowel, bladder and sexual function following rectal cancer surgery.

Format: DOC Size: 36KB Download file

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