Developing an mHealth Application to Improve Cancer Chemotherapy Symptom Management

University of Michigan

Status: Completed

Conditions: Colon Cancer; Rectal Cancer

Treatments: Device: MyChemoCare iPad application

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02460822

12-PAF07680

Details and patient eligibility

About

This research project addresses critical gaps in cancer symptom management through the creation of a mobile chemotherapy symptom management application. This application will assess for the presence and severity of common chemotherapy side-effects and provide personally tailored symptom-related video and narratives to enhance self-management of cancer and treatment-related symptoms. This study will examine patient acceptance and use of this mHealth application (called MyChemoCare) in a prospective trial of cancer patients (n=60) who are receiving chemotherapy for colorectal cancer at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Enrollment: 16 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 80 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer
• Expected to live at least 6 months
• Initiating chemotherapy for the first time in their treatment history
• Physically and mentally able to participate
• Able to read English
• Willing and able to sign informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• A treatment plan that does not include cytotoxic chemotherapy for colon or rectal cancer
• A medical history that includes cancer with the exception of in situ cancers of the cervix and basal cell cancers of the skin
• A current diagnosis that includes multiple cancers (this does not exclude metastatic disease)
• Received prior cytotoxic chemotherapy for any reason
• A diagnosed psychiatric disorder

Trial design

Primary purpose: Supportive Care

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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16 participants in 1 patient group

MyChemoCare

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive access to the the MyChemoCare iPad application, which allows them to track cancer and chemotherapy related symptoms daily, and suggests strategies that may help the participant deal with these symptoms. While using the application, high symptom severity scores will be reported to the participant's medical team, who may intervene to help relieve the symptom. Participants will also be contacted if they have not checked in for 48 hours to make sure they are coping well with their chemotherapy regimen.

Treatment:

Device: MyChemoCare iPad application