Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will participating in the PREFACE Study affect the amount of time I have with my doctor?
A: No, our meeting will not decrease the amount of time you will have with your healthcare provider in the clinic. Whether you decide to participate in this study or not, your medical care in our clinics will not be affected.
Q: Can I find the PREFACE Study on ClinicalTrials.gov?
A: Yes! As a clinical study*, the PREFACE Study has been assigned a ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT05239338) and is accessible via this link: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05239338.
*The PREFACE Study is by definition not a clinical trial. It is another type of clinical study called an observational study. More information on study types found here.
Q: How do I find out if me or my loved one is eligible for the PREFACE Study?
A: Thank you for your interest in joining the PREFACE Study! You may be eligible for this study if you were diagnosed with colorectal cancer between ages 18 and 49 years, have not yet started your cancer treatment, and are receiving care at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. To discuss whether you may be eligible for this study, please call or e-mail our team at (615) 936-6204 or prefacestudy@vumc.org and ask to speak with our study coordinator.
Q: Can I participate if I do not want to have a child or any more children?
A: Yes! The goals of the PREFACE Study go beyond fertility. We are interested in learning about ALL the specific needs and concerns of individuals ages 18-49 along their colorectal cancer journey. This includes fertility, but also important areas of your life like: sexual health, physical activity, emotional and social support, and general health habits. This information can help us create new strategies that will improve cancer survivorship (or "THRIVE-orship") for patients. We hope you will consider participating!
Q: I can't find the return access code to my online survey. Where can I get this code?
A: Your survey responses are protected with a code because we make every reasonable effort to keep your personal information private. Please contact our study team/coordinator at any time. Our team will look up this unique code and share the code/personalized survey link with you over the phone, by e-mail or text message—whichever is easiest for you.
Q: I misplaced my survey. How do I get a new copy?
A: We promise, this happens to us all. Give us a quick call at (615) 936-6204 or send us a note at prefacestudy@vumc.org, and we can get a new paper copy sent to your home right away at no cost to you! We will also send you a pre-paid return envelope for the survey.
Q: I have completed my survey(s) using paper forms. How do I return it to the study team?
A: All paper surveys can be mailed back to the study office at 2525 West End Ave. Suite 800, Nashville, TN 37203, using the pre-paid envelope we have provided. You can also bring your survey with you to your next clinic visit at Vanderbilt and pass it on to any member of your medical team or study staff.
Q: What is the physical activity component of the study?
A: The physical activity part of the PREFACE Study consists of wearing a device, an accelerometer, around your waist (like a belt!) for 7 days. The accelerometer will help us measure how much physical activity you get each day. Visit the Accelerometer page for more details!
Q: I am having trouble accessing an article related to the PREFACE Study. How can I freely view this document?
A: Please e-mail us at prefacestudy@vumc.org with your request, and we will arrange to send you a copy of the article via e-mail (PDF) or postal mail (paper).
Q: How can I get more information about this clinical study?
A: If you would like to learn to more about the PREFACE Study, please visit other tabs of our website found above. You may also reach out to us anytime, and our team will be more than happy to speak with you! At your convenience, our staff is available by phone at (615) 936-6204 or e-mail at prefacestudy@vumc.org.
Don't see your question listed here? Reach out to our team!
We do our best to regularly update this page with common FAQs received. Please feel free to contact us below if your question is not answered on this page or you would like any further information.
Phone: (615) 936-6204
E-mail: prefacestudy@vumc.org
How does the PREFACE Study incorporate patient perspectives and experiences?
The PREFACE Patient Advisory Council (PAC) was created to consider the patient voice in our research priorities and supportive care needs, to improve components and communication of the PREFACE Study with patients, and to engage participants and increase representativeness across diverse groups.
Learn more about the PREFACE PAC, and about opportunities to join our PAC, here!