Mobile Health and Social Media Intervention for Cancer Survivors

Recruiting at 50 trial locations

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: Children's Oncology Group

Disqualifiers: Allogeneic HSCT, Pregnancy, ALTE2031, others

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

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

190 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This clinical trial tests the impact of a culturally-tailored home-based physical activity program on physical fitness in Hispanic or Latino/Latina adolescent and young adult (AYA) childhood cancer survivors. After treatment for cancer, some AYA survivors experience long-term effects from the cancer and its treatment including weight gain, fatigue and decreased physical fitness. Hispanic or Latino/Latina survivors may have a higher risk of these effects compared to non-Hispanics. Regular physical activity helps maintain healthy weight, energy levels and overall health. Participating in a culturally-tailored home-based physical activity program may help increase physical activity in Hispanic or Latino/Latina AYA childhood cancer survivors.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on a physical activity program, so it's best to consult with the trial coordinators or your doctor for guidance.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on a physical activity program for cancer survivors.

What data supports the idea that Mobile Health and Social Media Intervention for Cancer Survivors is an effective treatment?

The available research shows that Mobile Health and Social Media Intervention for Cancer Survivors can be effective in improving physical activity and quality of life. One study found that using a combination of mobile health tools, like apps and social media, increased physical activity and improved quality of life for cancer survivors compared to other methods like exercise prescriptions alone. Another study highlighted that breast cancer survivors appreciated social support features, such as having a coach or exercise buddy, which were part of the intervention. Additionally, a pilot study showed that breast cancer survivors who used a mobile health app and participated in a Facebook-based health education program increased their daily physical activity and steps, while also losing weight and body fat. These findings suggest that this treatment can help cancer survivors become more active and improve their overall health. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Culturally-Tailored Mobile Health and Social Media Physical Activity Intervention for cancer survivors?

Research shows that using mobile health apps and social media can help cancer survivors increase their physical activity and improve their quality of life. Studies found that survivors who used these tools reported more physical activity, better social support, and improvements in their ability to engage in daily activities. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What safety data exists for the mobile health and social media intervention for cancer survivors?

The studies reviewed do not explicitly provide safety data for the mobile health and social media intervention. However, they indicate that such interventions are generally feasible and acceptable among cancer survivors, with no reported adverse effects. The interventions focus on improving physical activity and quality of life, suggesting a positive impact without safety concerns. Further research may be needed to explicitly address safety data. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Is the Mobile Health and Social Media Intervention for Cancer Survivors safe?

The studies suggest that using mobile health and social media interventions for cancer survivors is generally safe, as they focus on promoting physical activity and healthy behaviors without reporting any adverse effects. ^{1 2 3 6 7}

Is the Culturally-Tailored Mobile Health and Social Media Physical Activity Intervention a promising treatment for cancer survivors?

Yes, the Culturally-Tailored Mobile Health and Social Media Physical Activity Intervention is promising for cancer survivors. It uses mobile health technology and social media to increase physical activity, improve quality of life, and provide social support. Participants enjoy the feedback and tracking features, and the intervention has shown positive outcomes like increased physical activity and improved health measures. ^{1 2 3 4 8}

How is the Walking Juntos Study treatment different from other treatments for cancer survivors?

The Walking Juntos Study is unique because it combines a culturally-tailored mobile health app with social media to encourage physical activity among cancer survivors, offering personalized exercise plans and social support features like coaching and peer interaction, which are not typically included in standard treatments. ^{1 2 3 4 8}

Research Team

Jason A Mendoza

Principal Investigator

Children's Oncology Group

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for Hispanic or Latino/Latina AYA childhood cancer survivors, aged 15-21 years, who are in remission but have had chemotherapy and/or radiation. They should be ambulatory, with no medical issues preventing increased physical activity, not very active currently (<420 minutes of moderate exercise per week), and able to use electronic devices.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 15 and 20 years old.

My first cancer diagnosis is in remission and I am enrolling while it remains so.

My cancer treatment included chemotherapy or radiation.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Stage 1

Participants wear a Fitbit, set physical activity goals, receive text messages, and view private social media peer support group content over 7-10 days once every 3 months. They also wear a research grade activity measuring device and participate in interviews.

9 months

1 visit every 3 months (in-person or virtual)

Stage 2 - Intensive Phase

Participants wear a Fitbit daily, receive weekly reminders, attend weekly goal setting sessions, and engage with social media peer support. They receive individualized goals and badges.

12 weeks

Weekly virtual sessions

Stage 2 - Maintenance Phase

Participants continue wearing a Fitbit, set their own goals weekly, and engage with social media for 4 weeks.

4 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in physical activity, sedentary time, and quality of life using accelerometers and questionnaires.

4 weeks

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Culturally-Tailored Mobile Health and Social Media Physical Activity Intervention

Trial Overview The study tests a home-based physical activity program tailored for Hispanic or Latino/Latina AYA cancer survivors. It includes text messages, device usage (like Fitbit), questionnaires, rewards for goals met, interviews about their experience, and media interventions to improve fitness.

Participant Groups

Group I: Stage 2, Group I (Fitbit, goal setting, peer support) Experimental Treatment 7 Interventions

INTENSIVE PHASE: Patients wear a Fitbit physical activity tracker daily and receive weekly reminders to wear the Fitbit for 12 weeks. Patients attend weekly goal setting sessions, receive individualized physical activity goals, view and post private social media peer support group content 2-3 times weekly, and receive badges for 12 weeks. MAINTENANCE PHASE: Patients wear a Fitbit physical activity tracker daily and set their own physical activity goals weekly for 4 weeks. Patients also receive access to the social media account and post content for 4 weeks.

Group II: Stage 1 (Fitbit, interview) Experimental Treatment 6 Interventions

Patients wear a Fitbit physical activity tracker daily, set physical activity goals, receive text messages, and view private social media peer support group content over 7-10 days once every 3 months. Patients also wear a research grade activity measuring device over 1-3 days and participate in a one-on-one interview once every 3 months for 9 months.

Group III: Stage 2, Group II (Fitbit) Active Control 3 Interventions

Patients wear a Fitbit physical activity tracker daily for 12 weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Children's Oncology Group

Lead Sponsor

Trials

467

Recruited

241,000+

Findings from Research

A multi-component mobile health intervention significantly improved daily physical activity and physical health in cancer survivors compared to a control group, with participants increasing their daily steps and overall well-being over a 6-month period.

The social media component of the intervention enhanced perceived social support among cancer survivors, indicating that social interaction can play a beneficial role in their recovery and health management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of personalized exercise prescriptions and social media delivered through mobile health on cancer survivors' physical activity and quality of life. Gao, Z., Ryu, S., Zhou, W., et al.[2023]

Breast cancer survivors (N = 96, average age 55.8) showed a strong preference for social support features in technology-supported physical activity interventions, with 77.1% interested in having a coach and 66.7% in team support.

While survivors valued social connectedness and sharing activity data, there was mixed feedback on competitive features, indicating a need for tailored approaches in designing these interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Breast cancer survivors' preferences for social support features in technology-supported physical activity interventions: findings from a mixed methods evaluation. Lloyd, GR., Hoffman, SA., Welch, WA., et al.[2021]

Young adult cancer survivors showed similar levels of engagement on Facebook in both a physical activity intervention group and a self-help group, with no significant differences in the number of comments or participation over 12 weeks.

Participant-initiated posts received more interaction than those initiated by moderators, and engagement on Facebook was linked to increased light physical activity, suggesting that social media can play a role in promoting physical activity among this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Engagement of young adult cancer survivors within a Facebook-based physical activity intervention. Valle, CG., Tate, DF.[2023]

A 10-week pilot study with 10 breast cancer survivors showed that using the MapMyFitness app and a Facebook-based health education intervention significantly increased physical activity levels, with participants averaging an additional 2.6 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity and 1,657 more steps per day.

Participants also experienced notable health improvements, including a decrease in weight by 2.4 kg and body fat percentage by 2.3%, along with enhanced social support and quality of life, indicating that technology-based interventions can be effective for promoting health in breast cancer survivors.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Feasibility of smartphone application and social media intervention on breast cancer survivors' health outcomes. Pope, Z., Lee, JE., Zeng, N., et al.[2019]

An 8-week pilot study involving 20 breast cancer survivors, primarily Latina, tested Latin dance and Qigong/Tai Chi as physical activity interventions, but did not show significant changes in steps per week, BMI, or body fat percentage overall.

Despite the lack of significant changes, the interventions were well-received and showed small to moderate effect sizes for increasing physical activity and reducing body fat, suggesting they could be beneficial for engaging high-risk breast cancer survivors in future studies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Latin dance and Qigong/Tai Chi effects on physical activity and body composition in breast cancer survivors: A pilot study. Soltero, EG., Larkey, LK., Kim, WS., et al.[2022]

The CHAT intervention, a 4-week mobile health program for African American breast cancer survivors, demonstrated high participant engagement and acceptability, with 85% of participants reporting positive behavior changes.

Participants in the intervention group significantly reduced their sedentary time by 4.37 hours per day and decreased fast food intake by 1.5 servings, indicating the potential effectiveness of mobile technology in improving health behaviors among this population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Pilot and Feasibility Mobile Health Intervention to Support Healthy Behaviors in African American Breast Cancer Survivors. Allicock, M., Kendzor, D., Sedory, A., et al.[2022]

Overweight and obese breast or colorectal cancer survivors (n=16) identified lack of motivation related to survivorship experiences and symptom management as the main barrier to increasing physical activity, highlighting the need for tailored interventions.

Participants showed high acceptability for using wearable biosensors, like continuous glucose monitors, which provided real-time feedback on their health metrics, suggesting that integrating such technology could effectively motivate cancer survivors to engage in more physical activity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A qualitative study to explore the acceptability and usefulness of personalized biofeedback to motivate physical activity in cancer survivors. Brannon, GE., Ray, M., Cho, P., et al.[2022]

Mobile health (mHealth) interventions, especially those including personal contact, have strong evidence for effectively increasing moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among cancer survivors, based on a review of 31 studies.

However, the evidence for mHealth interventions in increasing total activity levels and reducing sedentary behavior remains inconclusive, highlighting the need for further research in these areas.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

mHealth Interventions to Address Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review. Khoo, S., Mohbin, N., Ansari, P., et al.[2021]

References

1. China pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of personalized exercise prescriptions and social media delivered through mobile health on cancer survivors' physical activity and quality of life. [2023]

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

Breast cancer survivors' preferences for social support features in technology-supported physical activity interventions: findings from a mixed methods evaluation. [2021]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Engagement of young adult cancer survivors within a Facebook-based physical activity intervention. [2023]

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

Feasibility of smartphone application and social media intervention on breast cancer survivors' health outcomes. [2019]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Latin dance and Qigong/Tai Chi effects on physical activity and body composition in breast cancer survivors: A pilot study. [2022]

6. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Pilot and Feasibility Mobile Health Intervention to Support Healthy Behaviors in African American Breast Cancer Survivors. [2022]

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

A qualitative study to explore the acceptability and usefulness of personalized biofeedback to motivate physical activity in cancer survivors. [2022]

8. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

mHealth Interventions to Address Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review. [2021]