Breast Cancer
Conditions
Keywords
Breast Cancer, mHealth, Mindfulness, Complementary Therapies
Brief summary
The investigators are conducting a web-based study to explore the use of a mindfulness app to improve quality of life among women with breast cancer. Eligible participants will be asked to provide informed consent to participate and submit a data authorization form to obtain information from the app at the end of the project. This 12-week project will randomly assign participants to one of two groups: Group 1 (AMT) will receive the mindfulness app right away; Group 2 (WC) will receive the mindfulness app at the end of 12 weeks. All participants will receive a welcome email with group designation. Participants assigned to Group 1 (AMT) will also receive app download instructions and pass code. Group 1 will be asked to complete the app's first 10-minute mindfulness exercise, at minimum. Participants assigned to Group 2 (WC) will be notified that they will receive app download instructions and pass code at the end of 12 weeks. Regardless of group assignment, all participants will be asked to complete web-based survey assessments 4 different times throughout the study (baseline, week 5, week 9, 12-week follow up). The surveys will be related to quality of life, mindfulness, mobile technology, health literacy, and chronic pain. To encourage participation, a member of the study team will send out weekly check-in emails. Once all data has been collected, app developers will provide the investigators with app data for each participant, including times accessed, length of time using app. This information will help the investigators observe which app characteristics are most useful, as well as the optimal amount of time needed to obtain benefit from the app. The investigators goals are to understand how using the mindfulness app compares to not using the mindfulness app. The investigators will also observe whether the app contributes to participants' quality of life. The investigators also want to understand more about how women use health apps overall. This information may inform issues related to delivery of app-based health interventions among women with breast cancer.
Detailed description
The proposed project utilizes a randomized controlled trial design to explore the efficacy of a commercial app-based mindfulness training (AMT) intervention for women with breast cancer, compared to waitlist control (WC). Recruitment commenced in August 2015 and will continue until March 2016. Up to 180 participants will be recruited using a combination recruitment strategy, including social media, word of mouth, registries, and informing colleagues of the project. The proposed sample size, powered to detect changes in quality of life, is adequate for 70% power, while accounting for attrition. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to app-based mindfulness training (AMT; n=90) or waitlist control (WC; n=90). Group assignment will be stratified by endorsement of past year mind-body complementary or alternative medicine practice indicated at baseline. Informed consent will be obtained at baseline, prior to completion of assessments. Participants will also be asked to sign a data authorization allowing the research team to obtain app metadata at the completion of the study: At baseline (pre-group assignment), participants will be required to complete web-based survey assessments related to quality of life, mindfulness, health literacy, health apps, and chronic pain. A unique web link to a secure data collection website will be emailed to each participant. Participants will have up to 7 days to complete assessments. Group assignment will be ongoing, as participants enroll. All participants completing baseline assessments will receive a welcome email indicating group assignment. Participants assigned to AMT will receive app download instructions and pass code in the welcome email. All participants will receive weekly check-in emails to facilitate engagement and retention. At week 5 and week 9, all participants will complete web-based survey assessments related to quality of life, mindfulness, and chronic pain. A fidelity check will be completed to identify group contamination or new use of other health apps. At 12-week follow up, all participants will complete web-based survey assessments related to quality of life, mindfulness, and chronic pain. A fidelity check will be completed to identify group contamination or new use of other health apps. At this time, participants assigned to WC will receive app download instructions and pass code. At the study completion, app developers will provide the investigators with app log data at the individual level. This information will help the investigators observe which app characteristics are most useful, as well as the optimal amount of time needed to obtain benefit from the app.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALApp-based Mindfulness Training
A commercially available mindfulness training app delivered to smartphone or tablet.
Sponsors
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
25 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Female 2. Age ≥ 25 3. Breast cancer diagnosis within past 5 years 4. Willing to provide locator information for follow-up contact 5. Reliable internet access 6. Ownership of smartphone or tablet with following specifications: wireless capability, running on iOS or Android operating system, current software (4.4 Android; 8.0 iOS or later), and adequate memory to run the mindfulness app (43M Android; 30.2M iOS).
Exclusion criteria
1. Unfamiliar with mobile phones/tablets, including ability to download and register mindfulness app 2. Become unable to participate in a fully app and web-based intervention trial 3. Unwilling to complete online questionnaires 4. Unwilling to use personal phone/tablet to test intervention
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in breast cancer-related quality of life scores | Change from baseline FACT-B scores at 12 weeks | Measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in mindfulness scores | Change from baseline MAAS scores at 12 weeks | Measured by the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) |
| Change in spiritual quality of life scores | Change from baseline FACIT-SP scores at 12 weeks | Measured by the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT-SP) |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in pain-related severity and interference | Change from baseline BPI scores at 12 weeks | Measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) |
| Health literacy scores | Measured at baseline | Measured by the Brief Health Literacy Screen |
| App usability | Measured at 5 weeks | Measured by the Systems Usability Scale |
| eHealth literacy scores | Measured at baseline | Measured by the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed