Detecting Activity to Support Healing (DASH)

University of Pittsburgh

Status: Completed

Conditions: Peritoneal Cancer; Sedentary Lifestyle; Colorectal Cancer

Treatments: Device: Bluetooth-enabled activity monitor; Behavioral: Sedentary Behavior

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; NIH

Identifiers

NCT03211806

K07CA204380 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

16-075

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of this research is to develop and test a technology-supported intervention to reduce sedentary behavior before and after cancer surgery. Surgical oncology patients are at elevated risk for postoperative complications and readmissions. Sedentary behavior increases markedly after surgery and hospitalization, and reducing sedentary behavior around the time of cancer surgery could reduce risk while also empowering cancer patients to take a more active role in their recovery.

Full description

Colorectal or peritoneal cancer patients scheduled for surgical resection (n=60) will be randomized to either the sedentary behavior intervention or monitoring only. The intervention will use a Bluetooth-enabled activity monitor to detect prolonged sedentary bouts, which will prompt a message delivered via smartphone suggesting that patients walk. The intervention will begin at least two weeks prior to scheduled surgery and will continue through the first 30 days at home following hospital discharge. Outcomes will include objective activity and sedentary behavior, patient-reported symptoms and quality of life using standardized instruments, inflammatory biomarkers, and morbidity and hospital readmission 30-days after index discharge.

Enrollment: 26 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Scheduled for curative surgical treatment of metastatic colorectal or peritoneal cancer at UPMC Shadyside
• Ability to stand and walk unassisted prior to surgery
• Identified at least two weeks prior to their scheduled surgery date

Exclusion criteria

• Unable to read and write in English

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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26 participants in 2 patient groups

Sedentary behavior intervention group

Experimental group

Description:

This group will wear an activity monitor linked to a smartphone app that will send prompts aimed at interrupting prolonged sedentary bouts

Treatment:

Device: Bluetooth-enabled activity monitor

Behavioral: Sedentary Behavior

Monitoring-only group

Active Comparator group

Description:

This group will wear a bluetooth-enabled activity monitor but will not be prompted to change behavior

Treatment:

Device: Bluetooth-enabled activity monitor