Engagement and Acceptability of the Untire mHealth App

NCT ID: NCT05891431

Last Updated: 2024-09-19

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

34 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-12-15

Study Completion Date

2025-10-01

Brief Summary

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The aim of this study will be to assess the engagement and acceptability of the Untire mHealth intervention for adults with cancer related fatigue. Acceptability will be assessed after 2, 4, 6 and 12 weeks of app use. Participants (both those competed the study and those who stopped using the app) will be asked about their engagement with the app.

A secondary aim of this study will be to provide preliminary efficacy outcomes of the Untire intervention in reducing fatigue and QoL in adults experiencing cancer related fatigue.

Detailed Description

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Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most severe and commonly reported side effects of cancer treatment. There is a growing body of evidence that mHealth interventions (digitally delivered using a smart phone app) are effective at reducing CRF. The Untire app is a mHealth app is a registered medical device (ICD10 code R53.83 Fatigue) introduced in 2018 to treat CRF. One limitation common to most digitally delivered interventions is high levels of study drop out and decreased app use over time.

The aim of this study will be to assess the engagement and acceptability of the Untire mHealth intervention for adults with cancer related fatigue.A secondary aim of this study will be to provide preliminary efficacy outcomes of the Untire intervention in reducing fatigue and QoL in adults experiencing cancer related fatigue. The hypotheses for these efficacy outcomes are:

Hypothesis 1: Participants using the Untire app intervention will show reduced levels fatigue (as measured by scores on the fatigue subscale of the FACT-F) after 12 weeks compared to baseline.

Hypothesis 2: Participants using the Untire app intervention will show improved QoL (as measured by scores on the FACT-F) after 12 weeks compared to baseline.

Design:

A within groups study design will be used to evaluate the acceptability, engagement, and preliminary efficacy of the Untire mHealth intervention in adults with cancer related fatigue.

Participants:

Participants will be recruited through the following channels:

* NHS Cancer Treatment centres within the South West of England.
* Charities and third sector organisations: Youth Cancer Trust, Cancer Support UK, Macmillan, Shine.
* Social media: support groups/ networks on Facebook and Instagram: Cancer Awareness for Teens and Twenties (CATTs).

Engagement will be measured through retention and adherence rates over 12-week and in app use data; duration of app use and time spent on each activity within the app. Acceptability will be measured using the Acceptability E-scale and Digital Working Alliance Inventory collected at each time point. Other measures will include The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy - Fatigue (FACT-F) to provide preliminary data on effectiveness. The investigators also aim to contact participants who stop using the app or drop out of the study. This will be via email or telephone so they can provide qualitative feedback on the app.

Rationale:

The aim of looking at user engagement and acceptability was chosen as this is an area that is less well studied in mHealth interventions. Improving user engagement can be clinically significant as it can increase the amount of time patients spend using the intervention leading to better health outcomes. Looking at levels of acceptability and engagement across our sample will help us identify whether sample characteristics (such as age of user, cancer type) impact acceptability or engagement. This along with user feedback will help us to develop and tailor the Untire intervention to better fit with specific patient groups. Following up participants who have stopped using the app is something that is not normally possible in larger randomised control trials and will hopefully provide useful data on acceptability which can be used to develop the intervention in the future.

The study protocol has been developed with the University of Bath and the Tired of Cancer research team, who initially developed the Untire app. The investigators have also consulted with the Bristol Haematology and Oncology centre who will act as a recruitment site. two cancer survivors were also consulted on study methodology as well of other user experience aspects of the study design.

Conflict of interest:

The investigators are consulting with Tired of cancer (A mental health start-up company) who first developed the Untire app however the study is being independently run by the University of Bath's psychology department. Tired of Cancer are not providing any financial support / incentives for developing this study. No members of the study team are working as clinicians within the Bristol Haematology and Oncology centre.

Conditions

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Cancer-related Problem/Condition Cancer-related Fatigue

Study Design

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Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

A within groups study design
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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Untire app

Participants will be given access to the Untire app.

Untire is a mHealth app and a registered medical device (ICD10 code R53.83 Fatigue) introduced in 2018 to treat Cancer Related Fatigue in adults.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Untire mobile app

Intervention Type DEVICE

The Untire app is an mHealth intervention (digitally delivered using a smartphone app).

Untire offers a comprehensive program to help you understand cancer fatigue and gives a physical activity program, stress reduction exercises and tips to manage your energy level.

Interventions

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Untire mobile app

The Untire app is an mHealth intervention (digitally delivered using a smartphone app).

Untire offers a comprehensive program to help you understand cancer fatigue and gives a physical activity program, stress reduction exercises and tips to manage your energy level.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adults with cancer or cancer survivors (18 years and older).
* Self-reported current diagnosis or previous history of treatment for cancer (cancer survivor).
* A moderate or severe level of fatigue as measured by items 1-3 of the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI).
* Access to a smart phone, tablet, or iPad (Apple or Android).

Exclusion Criteria

* Participants \< 18 years of age
* Non-English language speakers
* Participants with a diagnosis of and receiving treatment for severe psychological distress (e.g. major depression, psychotic disorder, anxiety disorder, or addiction).
* Participants with a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis, or fibromyalgia.
* Previous or current us of the Untire app
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Tired of Cancer B.V.

INDUSTRY

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Bath

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Emil Vuillermoz

Principle Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust

Bath, , United Kingdom

Site Status

University Hospitals Bristol & Weston NHS Foundation Trust

Bristol, , United Kingdom

Site Status

Countries

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United Kingdom

References

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Tariman JD, Berry DL, Halpenny B, Wolpin S, Schepp K. Validation and testing of the Acceptability E-scale for web-based patient-reported outcomes in cancer care. Appl Nurs Res. 2011 Feb;24(1):53-8. doi: 10.1016/j.apnr.2009.04.003. Epub 2009 Sep 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20974066 (View on PubMed)

Underhill ML, Hong F, Jones T, Sprunck-Harrild K, Walsh SK, Boyajian R, Berry DL, Partridge A. Feasibility and Acceptability of a Web Site to Promote Survivorship Care in Survivors of Hodgkin Disease. JCO Clin Cancer Inform. 2017 Nov;1:1-10. doi: 10.1200/CCI.17.00012.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30657382 (View on PubMed)

Henson P, Wisniewski H, Hollis C, Keshavan M, Torous J. Digital mental health apps and the therapeutic alliance: initial review. BJPsych Open. 2019 Jan;5(1):e15. doi: 10.1192/bjo.2018.86.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30762511 (View on PubMed)

Goldberg SB, Baldwin SA, Riordan KM, Torous J, Dahl CJ, Davidson RJ, Hirshberg MJ. Alliance With an Unguided Smartphone App: Validation of the Digital Working Alliance Inventory. Assessment. 2022 Sep;29(6):1331-1345. doi: 10.1177/10731911211015310. Epub 2021 May 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34000843 (View on PubMed)

Yellen SB, Cella DF, Webster K, Blendowski C, Kaplan E. Measuring fatigue and other anemia-related symptoms with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) measurement system. J Pain Symptom Manage. 1997 Feb;13(2):63-74. doi: 10.1016/s0885-3924(96)00274-6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 9095563 (View on PubMed)

Mendoza TR, Wang XS, Cleeland CS, Morrissey M, Johnson BA, Wendt JK, Huber SL. The rapid assessment of fatigue severity in cancer patients: use of the Brief Fatigue Inventory. Cancer. 1999 Mar 1;85(5):1186-96. doi: 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19990301)85:53.0.co;2-n.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10091805 (View on PubMed)

Spahrkas SS, Looijmans A, Sanderman R, Hagedoorn M. How does the Untire app alleviate cancer-related fatigue? A longitudinal mediation analysis. Psychooncology. 2022 Jun;31(6):970-977. doi: 10.1002/pon.5886. Epub 2022 Jan 27.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35060222 (View on PubMed)

Spahrkas SS, Looijmans A, Sanderman R, Hagedoorn M. Beating Cancer-Related Fatigue With the Untire Mobile App: Protocol for a Waiting List Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2020 Feb 14;9(2):e15969. doi: 10.2196/15969.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32130185 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

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318755

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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