None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to test if supportive text messages help improve women’s mental and physical health after breast cancer treatments compared to not receiving any messages. Who is it for? You may be eligible for this study if you are aged 18 years or older, have been diagnosed with breast cancer and have completed cancer treatments within the past 18 months. Study details Participants in this study will be randomised (by chance) into two groups. One group of participants will receive four text messages per week at random times and days in addition to their usual care for 6 months. The other group will receive usual care alone for the 6-month period, and will be offered the text message program after that time. A small percentage of participants from each group will also wear an accelerometer on their wrist for 7 days. All participants will complete a number of questionnaires before and after the 6-month period. It is hoped this program will ease women’s transition to managing their health independently after treatments.
Interventions
The intervention is a six-month text message support program in addition to usual care. Participants will receive four messages per week at random times and days for the duration of the program. Message topics include 1) general breast cancer information 2) social/emotional support, 3) diet/exercise and 4) medication adherence and side effects. The messages will be semi-personalised, where some contain the participant’s preferred name and are tailored for individual circumstances and preferences
The intervention is a six-month text message support program in addition to usual care. Participants will receive four messages per week at random times and days for the duration of the program. Message topics include 1) general breast cancer information 2) social/emotional support, 3) diet/exercise and 4) medication adherence and side effects. The messages will be semi-personalised, where some contain the participant’s preferred name and are tailored for individual circumstances and preferences (eg. taking endocrine treatments or not). The messages are ‘one-way’, meaning that participants will not reply unless requesting withdrawal (‘STOP’). We have a purpose-built software system (software program and a centrally located research assistant with a clinical background) for safety monitoring of any replies and withdrawal (‘stop’) requests. A subset of participants (32/160) will wear accelerometers on their wrist for 7 days and resulting data will be used to validate the Global Physical Activity self-report scale.
Sponsors
The University of Sydney, Westmead Clinical School
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Educational / counselling / training
Masking
Blinded (masking used) (Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Patients will be eligible to participate if they are female, >18 years old; diagnosed with Breast Cancer; have completed breast cancer treatments (surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy) within the past 18 months (although can still be on endocrine treatment); own an operational mobile phone, capable of sending and receiving text messages; and provide written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
Patients will be excluded if they: are already participating in a text message-based study; have been diagnosed with distant metastatic breast cancer or cannot comply with study requirements (i.e. does not want to return for a follow-up visit).
Outcome results
None listed