Researchers created and validated a new 27-question questionnaire called the PCRC-TDQ that measures colorectal cancer patients’ knowledge about Traditional Chinese Medicine dietary practices and their nutrition education needs after surgery. In a study of 250 recovering cancer patients, the questionnaire showed excellent reliability with a consistency score of 0.899, successfully identifying knowledge gaps and educational needs. According to Gram Research analysis, this tool could help doctors provide personalized nutrition counseling combining conventional medical advice with TCM dietary guidance, though additional testing in multiple hospitals is needed before routine clinical use.
Researchers created and tested a new questionnaire to help doctors understand what colorectal cancer patients know about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) dietary practices and what nutrition education they need after surgery. The tool, called the PCRC-TDQ, was tested with 250 cancer patients and showed it reliably measures both dietary knowledge and educational needs. According to Gram Research analysis, this questionnaire could help doctors provide better, more personalized nutrition guidance during recovery from colorectal cancer surgery by identifying specific gaps in patients’ understanding of TCM dietary principles.
Key Statistics
A 2026 validation study of 250 postoperative colorectal cancer patients found that the PCRC-TDQ questionnaire achieved a content validity index of 0.990 (nearly perfect agreement among experts), demonstrating strong measurement of TCM dietary knowledge and educational needs.
The 27-item PCRC-TDQ demonstrated excellent internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.899 for the total instrument, 0.913 for the knowledge domain, and 0.849 for the needs domain, indicating reliable and consistent measurement across all question categories.
In the 250-patient validation study, the PCRC-TDQ’s four underlying factors explained 51.43% of total variance in patient responses, suggesting the questionnaire successfully captures the main dimensions of TCM dietary knowledge and needs in colorectal cancer recovery.
The preliminary PCRC-TDQ questionnaire was refined from an initial 40-item pool to a final 27-item instrument through two rounds of Delphi expert consultation with 20 specialists and exploratory factor analysis, ensuring only the most relevant and valid questions remained.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether a new questionnaire could accurately measure what colorectal cancer patients know about Traditional Chinese Medicine diet advice and what nutrition help they need after surgery.
- Who participated: 250 people who had surgery for colorectal cancer and were recovering. Researchers tested their new 27-question survey to see if it worked well.
- Key finding: The questionnaire successfully measured two main things: patients’ knowledge about TCM dietary practices and their need for nutrition education. The tool was reliable and consistent, with strong internal consistency scores (Cronbach’s alpha of 0.899).
- What it means for you: If you’re recovering from colorectal cancer surgery, this tool could help your doctor understand exactly what nutrition information you need. It combines conventional medical nutrition advice with Traditional Chinese Medicine approaches. However, doctors need to test it more in different hospitals before using it routinely.
The Research Details
Researchers created a new questionnaire step-by-step. First, they reviewed medical literature and talked to experts about what colorectal cancer patients should know about TCM diet. They interviewed patients and asked 20 nutrition and cancer experts (using a method called Delphi consultation) to suggest questions twice. They tested the questions with a small group, then gave the final 27-question survey to 250 cancer patients recovering from surgery.
The researchers used statistical methods to check if the questions actually measured what they were supposed to measure. They looked at whether each question was clear and useful, whether the questions grouped together logically (called factor analysis), and whether patients gave consistent answers if they took the survey twice.
This type of study is called a validation study, it’s designed to prove that a new measurement tool actually works correctly before doctors start using it in regular patient care.
After colorectal cancer surgery, patients need good nutrition to heal. Many patients, especially in Asian communities, want to combine conventional medical nutrition advice with Traditional Chinese Medicine dietary practices. However, doctors didn’t have a good way to measure what patients understood about TCM diet or what education they needed. This questionnaire fills that gap by giving doctors a reliable tool to identify knowledge gaps and personalize nutrition counseling.
The study showed strong reliability, the questionnaire gave consistent results when patients took it twice. The questions had excellent content validity (0.990 on a scale where 1.0 is perfect), meaning experts agreed the questions actually measure TCM dietary knowledge and needs. The questionnaire explained 51.43% of the variation in patient responses, which is reasonable for a new tool. However, the study was only done in one location with one group of patients, so researchers need to test it in other hospitals and with different patient groups before it’s used everywhere.
What the Results Show
The final questionnaire contains 27 questions divided into two main sections: 19 questions about TCM dietary knowledge and 8 questions about dietary education needs. The questions organized into four underlying factors (specific topic areas) that together explained about half of all the variation in how patients answered.
The questionnaire showed excellent internal consistency, meaning the questions reliably measured what they were supposed to measure. When researchers gave the same questionnaire to patients twice, they got very similar answers, proving the tool is stable and dependable.
Experts who reviewed the questions agreed they were well-written and relevant. Every question scored between 0.88 and 1.00 on a validity scale (where 1.0 is perfect agreement), and the overall questionnaire scored 0.990, which is exceptionally high.
The questionnaire successfully separated patients into groups based on their knowledge level and educational needs, suggesting it could help doctors identify which patients need more nutrition counseling.
The questionnaire’s knowledge section (19 questions) was slightly more reliable than the needs section (8 questions), with alpha scores of 0.913 versus 0.849. This suggests the knowledge questions are very consistent, while the needs questions still work well but with slightly more variation. The four underlying factors suggest that TCM dietary knowledge and needs break down into distinct topic areas that doctors should address separately during nutrition counseling.
This is the first questionnaire specifically designed to measure TCM dietary knowledge and needs in colorectal cancer patients. Previous nutrition assessment tools focused on conventional Western nutrition or general dietary practices, but didn’t address TCM-specific dietary principles. This questionnaire fills a gap in the research by combining both approaches, which is especially important for patients who want to use TCM dietary practices alongside conventional medical nutrition.
The study only included 250 patients from what appears to be a single location, so results may not apply to all colorectal cancer patients everywhere. The researchers only did preliminary testing, they didn’t use confirmatory factor analysis, which is a more rigorous statistical method to prove the questionnaire structure is correct. The study didn’t test whether the questionnaire actually helps doctors provide better nutrition counseling or improves patient outcomes. Researchers recommend testing the questionnaire in multiple hospitals and with different patient groups before doctors use it routinely in clinical practice.
The Bottom Line
This questionnaire shows promise as a tool for doctors to assess colorectal cancer patients’ TCM dietary knowledge and education needs. However, it’s not yet ready for routine use in all hospitals. Doctors interested in TCM nutrition counseling could consider using it in research settings or pilot programs, but should wait for additional validation studies before making it standard practice. Confidence level: Moderate, the tool works well in testing, but needs confirmation in other settings.
Colorectal cancer patients recovering from surgery, especially those interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine dietary practices, should know this tool exists. Doctors and nutritionists who work with cancer patients, particularly in Asian communities where TCM is common, should watch for this questionnaire’s wider adoption. Hospital administrators planning nutrition programs for cancer patients may want to follow this research. People who don’t want TCM dietary guidance don’t need this tool, conventional nutrition counseling remains appropriate.
If doctors start using this questionnaire after it’s fully validated, you could expect to see personalized nutrition recommendations within one to two weeks of your initial consultation. Benefits from improved nutrition counseling typically appear over weeks to months as you follow dietary recommendations during recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PCRC-TDQ questionnaire and who should use it?
The PCRC-TDQ is a 27-question tool that measures colorectal cancer patients’ knowledge about Traditional Chinese Medicine diet and their nutrition education needs after surgery. Doctors and nutritionists use it during initial recovery consultations to identify what patients understand and what they need to learn about TCM dietary practices.
How reliable is this new questionnaire for measuring dietary knowledge?
The questionnaire showed excellent reliability in testing 250 patients, with consistency scores of 0.899 overall and 0.913 for knowledge questions. Experts strongly agreed the questions measure what they’re supposed to measure, with a validity score of 0.990 out of 1.0.
Can I use this questionnaire to assess my own TCM dietary knowledge?
The questionnaire was designed for doctors to use during professional nutrition consultations, not for self-assessment. However, once it’s fully validated and adopted in clinical practice, your doctor may use it to identify your specific knowledge gaps and personalize your nutrition counseling during cancer recovery.
Is this questionnaire ready for doctors to use in regular patient care?
Not yet. While the preliminary validation shows the questionnaire works well, researchers recommend additional testing in multiple hospitals and different patient groups before it becomes standard practice. Doctors should currently use it only in research settings or pilot programs.
How does this questionnaire combine Western medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine nutrition?
The PCRC-TDQ specifically measures knowledge and needs related to TCM dietary principles (like warming foods, food combinations, and timing) alongside conventional nutrition support. This allows doctors to address both approaches during recovery counseling for patients who want integrated nutrition care.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Track your daily adherence to TCM dietary recommendations on a scale of 1-10, noting which specific recommendations you followed (such as eating warming foods, avoiding cold foods, or consuming specific herbs). Record this weekly to see patterns in which dietary practices you’re actually following.
- Use the app to take a simplified version of the questionnaire monthly to reassess your TCM dietary knowledge and identify new education needs. Set reminders for specific TCM dietary practices your doctor recommends, such as eating at certain times or avoiding particular food combinations.
- Create a long-term tracking dashboard showing your TCM dietary knowledge growth over three to six months, your adherence to specific recommendations, and any changes in recovery symptoms (energy level, digestion, healing). Share these results with your doctor during follow-up appointments to adjust nutrition counseling as needed.
This article describes a preliminary validation study of a new questionnaire tool. The PCRC-TDQ has not yet been approved for routine clinical use and requires additional validation in multiple hospitals before widespread adoption. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice from your doctor or registered dietitian. If you are recovering from colorectal cancer surgery, consult with your healthcare team before making significant dietary changes, including adopting Traditional Chinese Medicine dietary practices. Some TCM dietary recommendations may interact with medications or medical conditions, always discuss any dietary changes with your medical team first.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.
