Mobile Health and Social Media Physical Activity Intervention Among Adolescent and Young Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors, the StepByStep Study

StepByStep: A Randomized Trial of a Mobile Health and Social Media Physical Activity Intervention Among Adolescent and Young Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors

This phase III trial compares a multi-component mobile health and social media physical activity intervention versus wearing a physical activity tracker alone among adolescent and young adult childhood cancer survivors. Regular physical activity helps maintain healthy weight, energy levels, and health. Adolescents and young adults who complete treatment for cancer are often less active. They may gain weight and have more health problems compared to people the same age who have not had treatment for cancer. Comparing the 2 programs will help researchers learn how to increase physical activity levels over time and also how changes in physical activity levels affect health and quality of life over time.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To evaluate the effects of a multi-component physical activity intervention including a Fitbit, individualized goal setting, and a social media peer support group compared to the control condition (Fitbit only) on physical activity among adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer (AYA survivors) who do not meet physical activity guidelines.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate the effects of a multi-component physical activity intervention including a Fitbit, individualized goal setting, and a social media peer support group compared to the control condition (Fitbit only) on biomarkers predictive of cardiometabolic health among adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer (AYA survivors) who do not meet physical activity guidelines.

II. To evaluate the effects of a multi-component physical activity intervention including a Fitbit, individualized goal setting, and a social media peer support group compared to the control condition (Fitbit only) on health-related quality of life among adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer (AYA survivors) who do not meet physical activity guidelines.

OUTLINE: Participants are randomized to 1 of 2 groups.

INTERVENTION GROUP: Participants receive educational materials about physical activity.

INTENSIVE PHASE (24 WEEKS): Participants wear a physical activity tracker (Fitbit) daily as well as receiving weekly reminders from study staff to wear it. They also receive goal setting sessions each week (by text, phone call, etc.) to set personalized step count goals using the Fitbit application (app). Lastly, participants receive an invitation to follow and post on an online social media peer support group (Instagram), where study staff provide encouraging advice and messages about physical activity 2-3 times per week, announce badges/awards every week, and moderate a forum to discuss physical activity and use of the Fitbit.

MAINTENANCE PHASE (24 WEEKS): Participants wear a Fitbit daily but do not receive reminders to wear it. They also set their own step count goals weekly and check in with study staff monthly for assistance with goal setting. Participants take the lead posting content on the Instagram account moderated by the study staff. Study staff only post once per week with general physical activity-related questions and provide no badges.

CONTROL GROUP: Participants receive educational materials about physical activity and wear a Fitbit daily for 48 weeks.

Inclusion Criteria:

• First diagnosis of malignant neoplasm (International Classification of Diseases for Oncology [ICD-O] behavior code of "3") in first and continuous remission at the time of enrollment

• Curative cancer treatment must have included chemotherapy (including cellular therapy) and/or radiation (including radioactive iodine)

  • Note: Childrens Oncology Group (COG) therapeutic trial participation is not required

• All cancer treatment must have been completed within 3-36 calendar months prior to enrollment

• Patients must have a life expectancy of > 1 year

• Self-report of < 420 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week as assessed via the study-specific Physical Activity Worksheet

  • Note: See COG Study Web Page for the Godin-Shephard Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire or link to online calculator

• Ambulatory and no known medical contraindications to increasing physical activity

  • Note: Patients with amputation, rotationplasty, or other prothesis are not automatically excluded as long as they are ambulatory and have no known medical contraindications to increasing physical activity and all other eligibility criteria are satisfied

• No known significant physical or cognitive impairment that would prevent use of the electronic devices used for the protocol intervention (e.g. Fitbit, smartphone, tablet, or computer)

• Able to read and write English

  • Note: For patients < 18 years, consenting parent/legal guardian does not have to be able to read and write English

• All patients and/or their parents or legal guardians must sign a written informed consent

  • Note: Informed consent may be obtained electronically/online if allowed by local site policy and Institutional Review Board (IRB)/Research Ethics Board (REB) of record

• All institutional, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Cancer Institute (NCI) requirements for human studies must be met

Exclusion Criteria:

• Post-menarchal female patients who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant in the next year are excluded

  • Note: Pregnancy status can be established by clinical history with patient. Post-menarchal female patients are eligible as long as they agree to use an effective contraceptive method (including abstinence) during study participation

• Patients with previous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) are excluded

  • Note: Patients with previous autologous HSCT, chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy, and other cellular cancer therapies can participate as long as all other eligibility criteria are satisfied