Perioperative Telemonitoring to Optimize Cancer Care and Outcomes

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. To conduct a pilot randomized trial of a remote, perioperative telemonitoring intervention to improve patient-centered outcomes, surgical outcomes, and healthcare resource use in English and Spanish-speaking patients scheduled to undergo major abdominal gastrointestinal (GI) cancer surgery. Ia. Assess the feasibility, retention, and acceptability of the remote perioperative telemonitoring intervention as measured by the percentage of patients who a) agree to participate; b) complete \>= 70% of the telemonitoring; and c) report satisfaction with the intervention through structured exit interviews. Ib. Determine the preliminary efficacy of the remote perioperative telemonitoring intervention on surgical outcomes, healthcare utilization, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and functional recovery. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I (TELEMONITORING): Patients wear a Vivofit 4 daily for 30 days after hospital discharge for steps monitoring, and complete questionnaires over 5-7 minutes about symptoms and quality of life using the Aetonixx application (app) up to 7 days before surgery, before being discharged from the hospital after surgery, and on days 2, 7, 14, 30 after discharge. Patients also complete pulse oximetry, temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and weight assessment using at-home monitoring devices before surgery, then on days 2, 7, 14, 30 after discharge. Patients assessments are monitored by the surgical team in real-time to identify outcome trends, including onset, worsening/improving measures, and sporadic versus consistent measures. ARM II (ENHANCED USUAL CARE): Patients wear a Vivofit 4 for daily steps monitoring, and complete questionnaires over 5-7 minutes about symptoms and quality of life using the Aetonixx app up to 7 days before surgery, before being discharged from the hospital after surgery, and on days 2, 7, 14, 30 after discharge. Patients also complete pulse oximetry, temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and weight assessment using at-home monitoring devices before surgery, then on days 2, 7, 14, 30 after discharge. Patients use standard procedures for reporting problems.