The Food Network Effect (NCT07618559) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
The Food Network Effect
United States150 participantsStarted 2026-07-01
Plain-language summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if exposure to food related visual stimuli during the postoperative period can improve gastrointestinal recovery after abdominal surgery in adult patients.The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. Does structured exposure to food related television programming shorten the time to return of bowel function after surgery?
2. Does exposure to food related visual stimuli reduce postoperative ileus and improve recovery related outcomes such as hospital length of stay, appetite, patient satisfaction, and medication use?
Researchers will compare patients receiving structured food related programming during meal periods with patients receiving standard postoperative care to see if food related visual stimulation improves postoperative gastrointestinal recovery.
Participants will:
* Be randomly assigned to either a food-programming group or a standard care group
* Watch food-related television programming for at least 15 minutes during scheduled meal-time periods if assigned to the intervention group
* Have daily collection of routine postoperative information, including bowel function, medication use, and diet progression
* Complete brief optional questions regarding appetite and satisfaction during hospitalization
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Adult patients aged ≥18 years
* Undergoing abdominal surgery (including general, colorectal, trauma, or surgical oncology procedures) requiring inpatient post operative admission
* Able to participate in the intervention, including engaging with television based stimuli
* Able to follow simple instructions in the postoperative period
Exclusion Criteria:
* Critical illness requiring ICU-level care beyond the immediate postoperative period
* Mechanical ventilation (intubated patients)
* Requirement for high-level non-invasive ventilation (BiPAP for respiratory failure)
* Hemodynamic instability requiring vasopressor support
* Life support measures, including continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) or ECMO
* Altered mental status impairing participation (delirium requiring restraints)
* Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) \< 13 or inability to follow commands
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Incidence of postoperative ileus
Timeframe: Until hospital discharge, can vary from 2-10 days
2
Return of bowel function
Timeframe: from enrollment to the end of admission, can vary from 2-10 days