Grant Details
Grant Number: |
4R37CA225877-06 Interpret this number |
Primary Investigator: |
Phillips, Siobhan |
Organization: |
Northwestern University At Chicago |
Project Title: |
Multi-Site Adaptive Trial of a Technology-Based, Ehr-Integrated Physical Activity Intervention in Breast and Endometrial Cancer Survivors |
Fiscal Year: |
2024 |
Abstract
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT FROM THE PARENT GRANT APPLICATION
Increased moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) is associated with reductions in treatment-
related side effects, cancer recurrence and mortality and increased QOL and survival in breast and
endometrial cancer survivors. However, the majority (~70%) of survivors do not meet cancer-specific MVPA
recommendations (i.e. 150 mins/week). MVPA support is not part of standard care, resulting in few survivors
having access to efficacious MVPA programs. Failure to translate MVPA programs into care is a result of most
interventions being intense, on-site programs that deliver multiple components simultaneously to all
participants. This “one-size-fits-all” approach does not account for individual needs, nor can it realistically be
implemented into survivorship care. mHealth tools (i.e. smartphone applications, Fitbits, text messages), are
inexpensive and have demonstrated efficacy for increasing MVPA in other populations. Thus, they may be a
more scalable, less resource-intensive strategy to increase MVPA in more survivors. The ability to integrate
wearable MVPA monitor data into the electronic health record (EHR) further enhances the potential for a
technology-supported MVPA intervention to be integrated into cancer care. However, responses to these tools
is heterogeneous and may vary as part of a gradually progressing (in terms of weekly goal mins) MVPA
program. While a minimal intervention including the Fitbit integrated into the EHR (Fitbit+EHR) may be
sufficient for some cancer survivors to increase their MVPA, others will need more support. Further, some
survivors may need this additional support early on, while others may succeed early, but fail later when the
MVPA goal increases. Evidence is lacking to determine: a) whether the best augmentation tactic for non-
responders is to offer another mHealth component (i.e. online exercise videos) or a more traditional component
(i.e., telephone coaching) and b) when to classify a survivor as a non-responder. Thus, we propose to utilize a
novel experimental approach, the SMART (Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trial) to determine the
optimal: 1) augmentation component(s) to address non-response and 2) time is to identify non-responders.
Breast and endometrial cancer survivors (n=320) will be randomized to early (4 weeks) or delayed (8 weeks)
non-response evaluation groups. Those who do not respond to the Fitbit + EHR intervention as evidenced by
failure to sufficiently increase their MVPA will be re-randomized to one of two subsequent augmentation
tactics, either: (1) online gym or (2) online gym and coaching calls. Responders will continue with the
Fitbti+EHR for 6 months. The project is significant because it aims to develop an effective and scalable MVPA
intervention for cancer survivors that will move from a one-size-fits-all approached to a dynamic, tailored
approach for MVPA promotion by identifying non-responders at the right time and providing them with the
additional intervention components necessary to increase MVPA and improve health and disease outcomes.
Publications
None