Survivorship Mobile App for Childhood Cancer

Overseen By Patricia Murphy, RN

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of California, San Francisco

Disqualifiers: No mobile device, Non-English speaker, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

30 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This clinical trial studies the effectiveness of a newly developed survivorship mobile application (app) designed for survivors, or their caregivers, of childhood cancer to help them better navigate long-term follow-up care. The survivorship app provides survivors access to their treatment history and follow-up recommendations, improves knowledge of their diagnosis, treatment, risks, and recommended follow-up care by using a message notification. The ability to quickly connect and establish care planning may enhance adherence to recommended follow-up.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Survivorship mobile application for childhood cancer survivors?

Research shows that mobile health apps can empower cancer survivors by improving self-management and quality of life. A study on a similar app for osteosarcoma patients found it had high potential for patient empowerment, suggesting that such apps can be beneficial for childhood cancer survivors. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the Survivorship Mobile App for Childhood Cancer safe for use in humans?

There is no specific safety data available for the Survivorship Mobile App for Childhood Cancer, but similar mobile health apps have been used in pediatric oncology to support medication adherence and symptom management, suggesting they are generally considered safe for use. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

How is the Survivorship App treatment different from other treatments for childhood cancer survivors?

The Survivorship App is unique because it uses mobile technology to help childhood cancer survivors manage their health after treatment by tracking symptoms, providing education, and connecting them with other survivors, which is not commonly available in traditional treatments. ^{4 10 11 12 13}

Research Team

Robert Goldsby, MD

Principal Investigator

University of California, San Francisco

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for childhood cancer survivors or their caregivers who are attending the Survivorship Clinic at UCSF. Participants must have a smartphone or tablet with a service plan and be able to read, write, and understand English.

Inclusion Criteria

Must have a mobile device (smartphone or smart-tablet) with service plan

Must have ability to read, write, and understand English language

Survivors of childhood cancer attending Survivorship Clinic at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) OR caregivers of a childhood cancer survivor attending Survivorship Clinic at UCSF

Exclusion Criteria

An individual who does not meet any of the criteria mentioned above will be excluded from participation in this study.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Education and App Introduction

Participants receive education about potential late effects and the survivorship application

1 visit

1 visit (in-person)

App Usage

Participants use the survivorship app to improve knowledge of their diagnosis, treatment, risks, and recommended follow-up care

4 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in knowledge and app usability

4 months

Questionnaires at 4 time points

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Survivorship mobile application

Trial Overview The study is testing a new mobile app designed to help childhood cancer survivors manage long-term follow-up care. The app provides access to treatment history, educates on diagnosis and risks, and aims to improve adherence to follow-up recommendations through notifications.

Participant Groups

Group I: Survivorship Mobile Application Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants are seen in the survivorship clinic and receive education about potential late effects and the survivorship application on study. Participants enrolled in this study will be asked to complete two self-administered questionnaires at 4 time points. Questionnaires will be designed and made available electronically, to be completed on the participant's personal mobile device (e.g., mobile phone).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of California, San Francisco

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,636

Recruited

19,080,000+

Swim Across America

Collaborator

Trials

11

Recruited

410+

Swim Across America

Collaborator

Trials

8

Recruited

290+

Findings from Research

Childhood cancer survival rates in Germany have significantly improved over the last 40 years, with around 30,000 survivors currently, but many face long-term health consequences from their treatments, affecting their quality of life.

A mobile application was developed to enhance compliance with aftercare programs for former cancer patients, showing promising results in empowering patients to manage their follow-up care effectively.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Design, implementation, and evaluation of a mobile application for patient empowerment and management of long-term follow-up after childhood cancer. Kock, AK., Kaya, RS., Müller, C., et al.[2022]

Self-management education programs (SMEPs) can significantly improve self-efficacy, health knowledge, and health behaviors in chronic disease populations, but very few are tailored for adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors of childhood cancer, who face unique health risks and challenges.

Mobile health (mHealth) applications are identified as a promising method for delivering self-management education to AYA cancer survivors, but these interventions need thorough evaluation to ensure they effectively support survivor-focused care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Narrative Literature Review and Environmental Scan of Self-management Education Programs for Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer. Kobe, CM., Turcotte, LM., Sadak, KT.[2023]

In a 60-day randomized controlled trial with 48 children, the Pain Buddy mHealth application showed promise in managing cancer-related pain, leading to a significant reduction in instances of moderate to severe pain in the intervention group compared to the control group.

While both groups experienced a decrease in average daily pain, the intervention group reported no instances of moderate to severe pain by the end of the study, suggesting that Pain Buddy may effectively enhance pain management during cancer treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A pilot study of the preliminary efficacy of Pain Buddy: A novel intervention for the management of children's cancer-related pain. Hunter, JF., Acevedo, AM., Gago-Masague, S., et al.[2023]

In a pilot study involving 26 female childhood cancer survivors, the Health Storylines mHealth app was used frequently, with some participants accessing it up to 902 times, but overall, there were no statistically significant improvements in self-efficacy, perceived illness, or health-related quality of life after 3 or 6 months of use.

The study highlighted that while the app's mental health component was utilized by all participants, the effectiveness varied significantly between high and low users, suggesting that further research is needed to identify which individuals benefit most from such mHealth interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Use and Effect of the Health Storylines mHealth App on Female Childhood Cancer Survivors' Self-efficacy, Health-Related Quality of Life and Perceived Illness. Cantrell, MA., Ruble, K., Mensinger, J., et al.[2022]

A review of 23 studies found that mobile phone applications are feasible and acceptable tools for supporting cancer survivors during their transition from active treatment to follow-up care, particularly in promoting health through exercise and dietary changes.

Despite the potential benefits, the review highlighted a lack of robust evidence from randomized controlled trials (only three identified), indicating a need for more rigorous studies to better understand the effectiveness of these apps in improving quality of life and self-reported outcomes for cancer survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review of smartphone applications for cancer survivors. Changrani, K., Chima, S., Sharma, A., et al.[2023]

A scoping review identified 28 mobile apps designed for medication and symptom management in pediatric oncology patients, highlighting the potential for technology to support these patients.

The quality assessment of these apps revealed mean scores between 2.8 and 4.3, with most apps scoring low in user engagement, indicating a need for better design and functionality to enhance their effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of mobile phone applications to support medication adherence and symptom management in oncology patients. Jupp, JCY., Sultani, H., Cooper, CA., et al.[2019]

The INTERACCT mobile app significantly improved the quality of self-reported medical data in adolescent HSCT patients compared to traditional paper diaries, with a score of 4.14 versus 3.77 (P=.02).

Adolescents, especially those with treatment-related complications, used the app longer and reported higher satisfaction, indicating that the app is a promising tool for enhancing patient compliance and communication in long-term cancer care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Web-Based Mobile App (INTERACCT App) for Adolescents Undergoing Cancer and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Aftercare to Improve the Quality of Medical Information for Clinicians: Observational Study. Lawitschka, A., Buehrer, S., Bauer, D., et al.[2021]

The Chemo Assist for Children (CAC) mHealth application was developed to help parents manage chemotherapy-related symptoms in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), based on a thorough needs assessment and usability testing.

Usability evaluations showed that the CAC application is valid and accessible, effectively enabling parents to identify and manage symptoms, thereby improving communication with healthcare providers and enhancing the independence of symptom management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Chemo assist for children mobile health application to manage chemotherapy-related symptoms in acute leukemia in Indonesia: a user-centered design approach. Novrianda, D., Herini, ES., Haryanti, F., et al.[2023]

A scoping review identified 14 articles detailing nine Internet-based health technologies designed to help children undergoing chemotherapy report their health problems, highlighting the growing importance of digital tools in pediatric oncology.

Successful health applications for children, such as SPARK and Empower Stars!, are developed using theoretical foundations and rigorous testing, ensuring they meet user needs and enhance patient engagement during treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development and Evaluation of Internet-based Health Technology in Pediatric Oncology: A Scoping Review. Novrianda, D., Haryanti, F., Supriyadi, E., et al.[2022]

A study of 68 mobile health apps for cancer survivorship found that iOS apps generally incorporated more health behavior change theories and personalization features than Android apps, with 67% of iOS apps including these elements compared to only 38% of Android apps.

The research highlights the importance of integrating human-computer interface design and health behavior theories into mobile health apps to enhance their effectiveness in delivering personalized health interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Apps seeking theories: results of a study on the use of health behavior change theories in cancer survivorship mobile apps. Vollmer Dahlke, D., Fair, K., Hong, YA., et al.[2018]

The study developed a new framework for creating mobile apps that provide Survivorship Care Plans (SCPs) for adolescent and young adult cancer survivors, focusing on flexibility and engagement.

This framework helps identify key components of survivorship care, incorporates engaging features, and integrates behavior change strategies, making it easier to design effective health management tools for young cancer survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Towards an Ontology-driven Framework to Enable Development of Personalized mHealth Solutions for Cancer Survivors' Engagement in Healthy Living. Myneni, S., Amith, M., Geng, Y., et al.[2018]

Out of 249 mobile health apps for breast cancer survivors on Android, only eight met the criteria for further analysis, and only one out of 174 iOS apps was included, indicating a significant lack of available resources for this population.

The most common self-management feature found in the reviewed apps was survivorship education, followed by social networking, highlighting the need for more comprehensive mHealth resources that address the specific needs of breast cancer survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mobile applications for breast cancer survivorship and self-management: A systematic review. Kapoor, A., Nambisan, P., Baker, E.[2021]

A text messaging system was developed and tested with input from adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors, showing high acceptability and feasibility for improving survivorship care, including reminders for late effect screenings.

Participants found the system useful for connecting with community resources and suggested it could enhance survivorship care visits and foster social networks among AYA survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of a text messaging system to improve receipt of survivorship care in adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer. Casillas, J., Goyal, A., Bryman, J., et al.[2018]

References

1. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Design, implementation, and evaluation of a mobile application for patient empowerment and management of long-term follow-up after childhood cancer. [2022]

2. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Narrative Literature Review and Environmental Scan of Self-management Education Programs for Adolescent and Young Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer. [2023]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A pilot study of the preliminary efficacy of Pain Buddy: A novel intervention for the management of children's cancer-related pain. [2023]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Use and Effect of the Health Storylines mHealth App on Female Childhood Cancer Survivors' Self-efficacy, Health-Related Quality of Life and Perceived Illness. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A systematic review of smartphone applications for cancer survivors. [2023]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of mobile phone applications to support medication adherence and symptom management in oncology patients. [2019]

7. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Web-Based Mobile App (INTERACCT App) for Adolescents Undergoing Cancer and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Aftercare to Improve the Quality of Medical Information for Clinicians: Observational Study. [2021]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Chemo assist for children mobile health application to manage chemotherapy-related symptoms in acute leukemia in Indonesia: a user-centered design approach. [2023]

9. Thailand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development and Evaluation of Internet-based Health Technology in Pediatric Oncology: A Scoping Review. [2022]

10. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Apps seeking theories: results of a study on the use of health behavior change theories in cancer survivorship mobile apps. [2018]

11. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Towards an Ontology-driven Framework to Enable Development of Personalized mHealth Solutions for Cancer Survivors' Engagement in Healthy Living. [2018]

12. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mobile applications for breast cancer survivorship and self-management: A systematic review. [2021]

13. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of a text messaging system to improve receipt of survivorship care in adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer. [2018]