Text -Based Depression Screening Among Cancer Survivors

NCT ID: NCT06894849

Last Updated: 2026-01-08

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 60 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2026-01-05
• Study Completion Date: 2026-06-30

Brief Summary

Depression is common among cancer survivors, but current screening methods are not always effective. To help improve depression screening for cancer survivors, this study will conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 60 participants. The goal is to evaluate whether a text message-based approach to depression screening is feasible, acceptable, and potentially more effective than the current standard of care.

Detailed Description

This pilot randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a text message-based depression screening approach for cancer survivors. A total of 60 adult cancer survivors will be enrolled and randomly assigned to either the text message intervention or the usual care depression screening. The intervention involves sending text messages one week before scheduled oncology appointments, inviting participants to complete a depression screening using the PHQ-2, followed by the PHQ-9 for those who screen positive.

The study will assess the feasibility of implementing text message-based screenings, participant acceptability, and compare the efficacy of this method to traditional in-person depression screenings during clinical visits. The primary outcome is feasibility, measured by the proportion of participants completing the screening via text, while secondary outcomes will include acceptability (assessed through participant surveys) and preliminary efficacy (measured by screening completion rates and depression detection).

Eligible participants will be English-speaking cancer survivors aged 18 or older with an upcoming oncology appointment at the Hollings Cancer Center or associated clinics. The study aims to improve current depression screening methods and address challenges such as logistical and system-level barriers in screening cancer survivors for depression.

Conditions

Cancer; Depression Secondary to Other Disease; Cancer Survivor

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Text-Based Depression Screening

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Text-based depression screening

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Starting 1 week prior to the scheduled clinic appointment, patients will receive a text message invitation from HCC to complete depression screening. Participants will be asked to click to continue to the screening PHQ-2. For text message screening cadence, reminder texts will be sent daily for 3 days. Those who screen positive (PHQ-2 \>/= 3) will complete the remainder of the items (i.e., PHQ-9).

Usual Care

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Usual care (UC)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Usual care (UC) will consist of in-person assessment of depression using a validated brief screening tool (e.g., PHQ-2) synchronous with a clinical encounter with the outpatient oncology team. Although the person completing the screening (e.g., nurse, medical assistant) and other workflow may vary slightly across settings, the 2-items are generally presented orally to the patient during routine intake for a clinical encounter and entered into the EHR. Patients who screen positive will be asked to complete the full PHQ-9.

Interventions

Text-based depression screening

Starting 1 week prior to the scheduled clinic appointment, patients will receive a text message invitation from HCC to complete depression screening. Participants will be asked to click to continue to the screening PHQ-2. For text message screening cadence, reminder texts will be sent daily for 3 days. Those who screen positive (PHQ-2 \>/= 3) will complete the remainder of the items (i.e., PHQ-9).

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Usual care (UC)

Usual care (UC) will consist of in-person assessment of depression using a validated brief screening tool (e.g., PHQ-2) synchronous with a clinical encounter with the outpatient oncology team. Although the person completing the screening (e.g., nurse, medical assistant) and other workflow may vary slightly across settings, the 2-items are generally presented orally to the patient during routine intake for a clinical encounter and entered into the EHR. Patients who screen positive will be asked to complete the full PHQ-9.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• age > 18 years
• diagnosis of cancer
• upcoming appointment in an HCC or HCN oncology clinic within 14 days
• English proficiency
• ownership of a cellphone with SMS text capability.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Medical University of South Carolina

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Evan Graboyes

Professor-Faculty

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Evan Graboyes, MD, MPH, FACS

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Medical University of South Carolina

Locations

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Site Status: ENROLLING_BY_INVITATION

Medical University of South Carolina

Charleston, South Carolina, United States

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

United States

Central Contacts

Ruby H McGhee, B.A. Psychology

Role: CONTACT

mcgheeru@musc.edu

919-727-2339

Facility Contacts

Evan M Graboyes, MD, MPH

Role: primary

graboyes@musc.edu

843-876-1176

Other Identifiers

FD006/CC001335/FN09

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

00142039

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id