Social Network Coaching for Cancer

(SONATA Trial)

Overseen By Kah Poh Loh, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Rochester

Disqualifiers: Psychiatric, Cognitive impairments

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

220 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether a support program called SONATA (SOcial Networks to Activate Trust & Adherence) can assist older individuals receiving treatment for advanced cancer. SONATA includes six coaching sessions aimed at strengthening social networks, potentially improving treatment experiences. Each session lasts about 1 to 2 hours and occurs over four months. This trial suits those aged 60 and above with advanced or hard-to-cure cancer who can communicate in English and participate in sessions. Participants must not have psychiatric issues that would hinder their ability to join the sessions. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance cancer care support systems.

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 seems to focus on social support rather than medication changes.

What prior data suggests that the SONATA program is safe for older individuals receiving cancer treatment?

Research has shown that the SONATA program, a social support initiative, was tested in earlier studies. These studies evaluated how well older adults could manage the program while receiving cancer treatment. Although specific safety details from these studies aren't provided, the SONATA program focuses on social support through coaching sessions. This method is generally considered low-risk because it doesn't involve medication or medical procedures. The sessions aim to build trust and encourage adherence to treatment, which can improve overall well-being. Given the nature of the program, participants are expected to tolerate it well. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the SONATA intervention because it represents a fresh approach to supporting cancer patients through social network coaching. Unlike traditional treatments that focus primarily on medical or pharmaceutical interventions, SONATA emphasizes enhancing the social support networks of patients, which can significantly impact their mental health and overall well-being. By empowering patients to strengthen their personal relationships and communication skills, SONATA aims to improve quality of life and potentially aid in better treatment adherence and outcomes. This innovative focus on social dynamics sets SONATA apart from standard cancer care, offering a complementary method that addresses the emotional and psychological aspects of living with cancer.

What evidence suggests that the SONATA program is effective for cancer patients?

Research shows that the SONATA program, provided to participants in this trial, aims to strengthen social networks to improve trust and help older cancer patients adhere to their treatment plans. Early results suggest that strong social support can enhance patients' adherence to cancer treatments. This concept is based on a model demonstrating that strong social connections can lead to better health outcomes for cancer patients. Although direct data on SONATA's effectiveness is limited, evidence indicates that social networks can positively impact cancer care. The program uses coaching sessions to build these supportive networks. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kah Poh Loh, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Rochester

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals aged 65 or older who have been diagnosed with cancer and are starting or within the first three months of oral cancer treatments. They must be able to consent, speak English, and identify at least one person from their social network to join them in the program.

Inclusion Criteria

Patient must be able to identify at least one network member to participate with them

Patient must be able to provide informed consent

I am 65 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

Patient with any psychiatric or cognitive impairments interfering with participation as determined by the treating oncology team

Patient enrolled on oral anticancer therapeutic trials

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

SONATA Intervention

Participants engage in the SONATA social network support program, consisting of 6 coaching sessions over approximately 4 months

16 weeks

6 sessions (in-person or virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for adherence to oral anticancer treatments and other outcomes

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• SONATA

Trial Overview The SONATA program is being tested to see if it helps older adults with cancer by providing social support through coaching sessions. Participants will engage in six sessions over approximately four months aimed at enhancing trust and adherence to treatment.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Arm 1 - SONATA Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Rochester

Lead Sponsor

Trials

883

Recruited

555,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

In a study of 131 colon cancer patients, trust in oncologists was linked to improved physical functioning over time, highlighting the importance of a strong patient-physician relationship.

Patient enablement, which involves helping patients understand their diagnosis and treatment, was found to significantly influence changes in physical functioning, suggesting that empowering patients can enhance their quality of life during cancer care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Patients' Trust in Physician, Patient Enablement, and Health-Related Quality of Life During Colon Cancer Treatment. Ernstmann, N., Wirtz, M., Nitzsche, A., et al.[2018]

In a study of 7371 patients with operable IIIAN2 non-small-cell lung cancer, only 33.7% received all four recommended best treatment practices, highlighting a significant gap in adherence to guidelines.

Collective adherence to these best practices, including anatomic resection and induction therapy, was linked to improved survival rates, indicating that following these guidelines can lead to better patient outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Social determinants and facility type impact adherence to best practices in operable IIIAN2 lung cancer. Muslim, Z., Stroever, S., Baig, MZ., et al.[2023]

Adjuvant endocrine hormonal therapy (EHT) is crucial for nearly all breast cancer patients with hormone receptor-positive tumors, significantly reducing recurrence rates and the risk of death, yet about 33% of patients do not adhere to their prescribed medication.

This study aims to improve adherence to EHT through a bilingual, culturally tailored smartphone app and support from a patient navigator, with the goal of enhancing patient education, self-management, and ultimately improving survival and quality of life for breast cancer patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Improving adherence to endocrine hormonal therapy among breast cancer patients: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Chalela, P., Munoz, E., Inupakutika, D., et al.[2020]

In a study of 107 women with breast cancer over 26 weeks, 52% experienced unjustified changes to their chemotherapy regimens, indicating significant physician nonadherence that could impact treatment efficacy.

Factors such as older patient age, the treatment setting, and disease stage were linked to higher rates of nonadherence, while psychological factors specifically influenced the prescribing of vincristine, suggesting that understanding these influences could help reduce unnecessary treatment modifications.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Predictors of physician nonadherence to chemotherapy regimens. Schleifer, SJ., Bhardwaj, S., Lebovits, A., et al.[2019]

In a study of 577 cancer patients, breast cancer patients showed significantly higher rates of non-adherence to adjuvant chemotherapy guidelines compared to colon cancer patients, with rates of 69% for primary non-adherence and 89% for non-persistence at 6 months.

Patient-centered communication (PCCM) was found to be a critical factor influencing adherence, with lower communication scores linked to higher non-adherence, particularly among older patients and those diagnosed with breast cancer.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Adjuvant chemotherapy non-adherence, patient-centered communication, and patient-level factors in elderly breast and colon cancer patients. Mitchell, KR., Boyle, JR., Juricekova, L., et al.[2023]

There is a significant lack of quantitative data on treatment compliance among cancer patients, highlighting a gap in understanding how well patients follow their prescribed medical regimens.

Compliance is influenced not only by patient behavior but also by factors such as physician behavior, the quality of the patient-physician relationship, and the support systems available to patients, suggesting a need for a more holistic approach to improving compliance in cancer care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Compliance with cancer therapy by patients and physicians. Lewis, C., Linet, MS., Abeloff, MD.[2019]

A study involving 82 estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer patients developed predictive models to understand the complex reasons behind early discontinuation of adjuvant endocrine treatment, highlighting the need for tailored interventions.

Three effective strategies were identified to improve treatment adherence: reducing general anxiety, reinforcing pill-taking routines, and increasing trust in healthcare providers, particularly benefiting patients with lower health literacy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Network Modeling of Complex Time-Dependent Changes in Patient Adherence to Adjuvant Endocrine Treatment in ER+ Breast Cancer. Shinn, EH., Busch, BE., Jasemi, N., et al.[2022]

The study found significant variation in prostate cancer treatment rates, specifically prostatectomy, among different urologist subgroups based on their social networks, indicating that physician connections can influence treatment decisions.

In cities A, B, and C, certain urologist subgroups had notably lower odds of performing prostatectomies compared to others, even after accounting for patient characteristics, suggesting that physician networks play a crucial role in treatment variability.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physician social networks and variation in prostate cancer treatment in three cities. Pollack, CE., Weissman, G., Bekelman, J., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-malignancies-3-2023-eecb2

Social Network Coaching for Cancer (SONATA Trial) The SONATA treatment is unique because it focuses on enhancing social networks to build trust and improve adherence to cancer therapy, rather than relying ...

2. ancora.ai ancora.ai/en/details/NCT05745038

A Single Arm Pilot Trial of a Social Network Intervention The purpose of this study is to see if a social network support program (SOcial Networks to Activate Trust & Adherence or SONATA) is helpful ...

3. policylab.us policylab.us/clinical-trials/l/conditions/cancer?page=7

Cancer Clinical Trials & Research Studies Near You (Updated 8/25) The purpose of this study is to see if a social network support program (SOcial Networks to Activate Trust \& Adherence or SONATA) is helpful for older ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6065533/

A conceptual model of social networks and mechanisms of ... This paper provides a conceptual model describing mechanisms through which social networks influence cancer outcomes.

5. cdn.clinicaltrials.gov cdn.clinicaltrials.gov/large-docs/34/NCT01963234/Prot_SAP_000.pdf

Version 5/5/2015 Primary care providers at Federally Qualified Health Care facilities (FQHCs) are being asked to integrate substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and HIV ...

6. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05745038?term=ZALEPLON&rank=9

A Single Arm Pilot Trial of a Social Network Intervention The purpose of this study is to see if a social network support program (SOcial Networks to Activate Trust & Adherence or SONATA ) is helpful for older ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12153609/

Organizational Determinants, Outcomes Related to ... This review analyzed studies published between 2015 and 2025 to understand how organizational factors influence screening participation. It ...

8. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/390664665_Conflicting_and_Changing_Health_Recommendations_and_Their_Influence_on_Cancer_Prevention_Social_Media_Use_and_Trust_as_Positive_Mediators

Social Media Use and Trust as Positive Mediators Abstract. Purpose: This study examines the mediating roles of social media use and trust in the relationship between experts'health.

9. tandfonline.com tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10410236.2025.2543576?src=

Full article: Patient-Centered Communication and Cancer ... A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 271 cancer patients, yielding 217 valid responses. The findings show that patient-centered ...