WCM App for Cancer Survivors

Overseen By Susan Magasi, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Illinois at Chicago

Disqualifiers: Active treatment, No cancer diagnosis, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

Duration: 8 weeks

60 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it mentions that participants may still be undergoing endocrine or hormone therapies, suggesting that some medications might be allowed.

What data supports the effectiveness of the WCM app treatment for cancer survivors?

Research shows that smartphone apps can help cancer survivors by improving their quality of life and supporting their care after treatment. Similar apps have been used to help patients stick to their treatment plans and manage their health better, which suggests that the WCM app could be effective in supporting cancer survivors. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is the WCM App safe for cancer survivors?

Research on similar apps shows they are generally safe and help manage side effects during cancer treatment. For example, a study using a similar app for chemotherapy patients found it reduced side effects, and another app for radiation therapy patients received positive feedback for its safety and communication features. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

How is the WCM app treatment different from other treatments for cancer survivors?

The WCM app is unique because it is an eHealth self-management tool that helps cancer survivors independently manage their health by providing personalized feedback and guidance on supportive care options, unlike traditional treatments that often require direct healthcare provider involvement. ^{4 9 10 11 12}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Examine the Feasibility, Acceptability, User Satisfaction, and Response Patterns and Preliminary Efficacy on Targeted Patient Reported Outcomes. Using a pre-post, single arm feasibility design with cancer survivors with disabilities

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for cancer survivors aged 18 or older who have finished active treatment for breast cancer, head and neck cancer, or sarcoma. Participants must self-identify as having disabling after-effects of cancer per the Americans with Disabilities Act, be medically stable to engage in two data collection sessions totaling 2 hours, and communicate in English.

Inclusion Criteria

You consider yourself to have a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act and the American Community Survey's 6 disability questions.

I consider myself disabled due to cancer or its treatment.

This criterion refers to the process of testing the high-quality version of the WeCanManage prototype to see how easy and practical it is to use.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants use the WeCanManage app for self-management intervention

8 weeks

Baseline evaluation, completion evaluation, and 4-week post-completion evaluation

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• WCM app

Trial Overview The WeCanManage (WCM) app is being tested for its feasibility, acceptability, user satisfaction, response patterns and preliminary efficacy on patient-reported outcomes among cancer survivors with disabilities using a pre-post single arm design.

Participant Groups

Group I: WCM app Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

WCM app evaluation at baseline, upon completion of WCM program and 4 weeks after completion of WCM program, by completing PROMIS and Self Efficacy for managing disease scale questionnaires

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Illinois at Chicago

Lead Sponsor

Trials

653

Recruited

1,574,000+

Northeastern Illinois University

Collaborator

Trials

3

Recruited

850+

Northwestern University

Collaborator

Trials

1,674

Recruited

989,000+

Findings from Research

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 study involving 4475 breast cancer patients showed that using a smartphone app significantly improved adherence to multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) recommendations, with a notable reduction in noncompliance rates from 27.4% in 2013 to 8.8% in 2019.

Patients who used the app were 39% less likely to deviate from MDT recommendations compared to those who did not use the app, particularly improving compliance with adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Smartphone-Based App to Improve Adjuvant Treatment Adherence to Multidisciplinary Decisions in Patients With Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Observational Study. Yu, J., Wu, J., Huang, O., et al.[2021]

The OncoKompas online self-management application was found to be feasible for cancer survivors, with a 64% adoption rate and a 75-91% implementation rate, indicating that many participants used the app as intended.

Participants reported a mean satisfaction score of 7.3 out of 10, suggesting that while OncoKompas is effective, there is room for improvement in user experience and personalization to enhance its overall effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of an eHealth application "OncoKompas" to improve personalized survivorship cancer care. Duman-Lubberding, S., van Uden-Kraan, CF., Jansen, F., et al.[2022]

A randomized controlled trial will assess the efficacy and cost-utility of the eHealth self-management application Oncokompas for 544 cancer survivors, focusing on improving patient activation and overall quality of life.

The study aims to evaluate how well Oncokompas reaches cancer survivors and its impact on various outcomes, including self-efficacy and perceived patient-physician interaction, over a follow-up period of 6 months.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy, cost-utility and reach of an eHealth self-management application 'Oncokompas' that helps cancer survivors to obtain optimal supportive care: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. van der Hout, A., van Uden-Kraan, CF., Witte, BI., et al.[2018]

The pilot study involving 23 female breast cancer survivors demonstrated that an app-based interactive care plan (ICP) was feasible, allowing for remote monitoring and symptom management, although patient engagement fell short of the desired 75% completion rate for tasks.

Despite the initial feasibility, with all patients engaging in at least one task, the decreasing completion rates over time indicate a need for strategies to improve ongoing patient engagement and enhance the effectiveness of the ICP.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pilot implementation to assess the feasibility and care team impact of an app-based interactive care plan to remotely monitor breast cancer survivors. Stan, DL., Inselman, JW., Ridgeway, JL., et al.[2022]

A randomized controlled trial involving cancer patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy showed that daily text messages with self-care guidelines significantly reduced the overall side effects experienced by patients in the intervention group compared to the control group during the first cycle of treatment.

Patients in the intervention group also reported less nausea during both the first and second cycles of chemotherapy, suggesting that text messaging can be an effective tool for managing side effects in cancer treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Use of Text Messaging (SMS) for the Management of Side Effects in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy Treatment: a Randomized Controlled Trial. Rico, TM., Dos Santos Machado, K., Fernandes, VP., et al.[2022]

The Assisted Radiation Oncology Mobile Application (AROMA) was developed to improve communication between patients and radiation oncologists, and it received a high satisfaction rating of 8.6 out of 10 from users, indicating its potential effectiveness.

In a study involving 41 patients, the application was particularly praised for its side effect reporting function (94% positive feedback) and overall communication capabilities (91% positive feedback), suggesting it could enhance patient management during radiotherapy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of an Integrated Mobile Application System for Patients with Radiation Therapy: A Pilot Study. Park, J., Yea, JW., Oh, SA., et al.[2022]

A systematic review of 54 articles over the last 10 years found that mobile apps for cancer management are increasingly being researched, particularly for early detection, with a focus on melanoma.

Despite the growth in studies, many of the apps developed for cancer management tend to be removed from app stores after the research is completed, making it difficult for users to access them.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mobile applications in oncology: A systematic review of health science databases. Ana, FA., Loreto, MS., José, LM., et al.[2020]

The Oncokompas web-based eHealth application, designed to help cancer survivors manage their health-related quality of life and symptoms, did not significantly improve patient activation (knowledge, skills, and confidence for self-management) compared to a control group in a study involving 625 cancer survivors.

Despite the lack of improvement in self-management skills, this study highlights the need for tailored strategies in developing and implementing behavioral intervention technologies for cancer survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Role of eHealth application Oncokompas in supporting self-management of symptoms and health-related quality of life in cancer survivors: a randomised, controlled trial. van der Hout, A., van Uden-Kraan, CF., Holtmaat, K., et al.[2020]

A web-based survivorship care plan application (SCP-A) significantly reduced unmet needs and fear of recurrence in women with breast cancer over a 12-month period, as shown by a study involving 165 participants.

Women using the SCP-A reported improved quality of life compared to those in the control group, indicating that such digital tools can be effective in supporting breast cancer survivors post-treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term effectiveness of an E-based survivorship care plan for breast cancer survivors: A quasi-experimental study. Fang, SY., Wang, YL., Lu, WH., et al.[2020]

General practitioners (GPs) in the Netherlands expressed a desire to be more involved in the survivorship care of colon cancer patients, indicating that they are aware of the importance of monitoring for recurrent disease and maintaining contact with patients post-treatment.

The eHealth application Oncokompas(2.0) was viewed positively by GPs as a useful tool for enhancing self-management in survivorship care, particularly for younger and more educated patients, suggesting that digital health solutions can play a role in improving patient outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Primary care-led survivorship care for patients with colon cancer and the use of eHealth: a qualitative study on perspectives of general practitioners. Duineveld, LA., Wieldraaijer, T., Wind, J., et al.[2019]

A study involving 134 breast cancer women and their general practitioners showed that 85% of survivors found the survivorship care plan (SCP) binders useful, highlighting their importance in providing comprehensive post-cancer care information.

General practitioners also valued the SCP letters, with 38% using the information to facilitate patient care transitions, indicating that SCPs can enhance communication and long-term surveillance for cancer survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Survivorship care plan (SCP) : The viewpoints of women with breast cancer and their general practitioners]. Ladaique, AF., Desandes, E., Salleron, J., et al.[2021]

References

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

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

2. Canada pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Smartphone-Based App to Improve Adjuvant Treatment Adherence to Multidisciplinary Decisions in Patients With Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Observational Study. [2021]

3. Germany pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of an eHealth application "OncoKompas" to improve personalized survivorship cancer care. [2022]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy, cost-utility and reach of an eHealth self-management application 'Oncokompas' that helps cancer survivors to obtain optimal supportive care: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. [2018]

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

Pilot implementation to assess the feasibility and care team impact of an app-based interactive care plan to remotely monitor breast cancer survivors. [2022]

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

Use of Text Messaging (SMS) for the Management of Side Effects in Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy Treatment: a Randomized Controlled Trial. [2022]

7. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy of an Integrated Mobile Application System for Patients with Radiation Therapy: A Pilot Study. [2022]

8. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mobile applications in oncology: A systematic review of health science databases. [2020]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Role of eHealth application Oncokompas in supporting self-management of symptoms and health-related quality of life in cancer survivors: a randomised, controlled trial. [2020]

10. Ireland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Long-term effectiveness of an E-based survivorship care plan for breast cancer survivors: A quasi-experimental study. [2020]

11. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Primary care-led survivorship care for patients with colon cancer and the use of eHealth: a qualitative study on perspectives of general practitioners. [2019]

12. France pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Survivorship care plan (SCP) : The viewpoints of women with breast cancer and their general practitioners]. [2021]