Outcomes of a randomized controlled trial assessing a smartphone Application to reduce unmet needs among people diagnosed with CancEr (ACE)

Livingston, PM; Heckel, L; Orellana, L; Ashley, D; Ugalde, A; Botti, M; Pitson, G; Woollett, A; Chambers, SK; Parente, P; Chirgwin, J; Mihalopoulos, C; Lavelle, B; Sutton, J; Phipps-Nelson, J; Krishnasamy, M; Simons, K; Heynsbergh, N; Wickramasinghe, N; White, V

Outcomes of a randomized controlled trial assessing a smartphone Application to reduce unmet needs among people diagnosed with CancEr (ACE)

Livingston, PM Heckel, L Orellana, L Ashley, D Ugalde, A Botti, M Pitson, G Woollett, A Chambers, SK

Parente, P Chirgwin, J Mihalopoulos, C Lavelle, B Sutton, J Phipps-Nelson, J Krishnasamy, M Simons, K Heynsbergh, N Wickramasinghe, N White, V

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Cancer Medicine, 2020, 9 (2), pp. 507 - 516
Issue Date:: 2020-01-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Livingston, PM	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Heckel, L	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Orellana, L	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ashley, D	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Ugalde, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Botti, M	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Pitson, G	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Woollett, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Chambers, SK https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2369-6111	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Parente, P	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Chirgwin, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Mihalopoulos, C	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Lavelle, B	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Sutton, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Phipps-Nelson, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Krishnasamy, M	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Simons, K	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Heynsbergh, N	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wickramasinghe, N	en_US
dc.contributor.author	White, V	en_US
dc.date.accessioned	2020-04-08T06:53:30Z
dc.date.available	2019-10-22	en_US
dc.date.available	2020-04-08T06:53:30Z
dc.date.issued	2020-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Cancer Medicine, 2020, 9 (2), pp. 507 - 516	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/139896
dc.description.abstract	© 2019 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Background: Smartphone technology represents an opportunity to deliver practical solutions for people affected by cancer at a scale that was previously unimaginable, such as information, appointment monitoring, and improved access to cancer support services. This study aimed to determine whether a smartphone application (app) reduced the unmet needs among people newly diagnosed with cancer. Methods: A single blind, multisite randomized controlled trial to determine the impact of an app-based, 4-month intervention. Newly diagnosed cancer patients were approached at three health service treatment clinics. Results: Eighty-two people were randomized (intervention; n = 43 and control; n = 39), average age was 59.5 years (SD: 12.9); 71% female; 67% married or in a de facto relationship. At baseline, there were no differences in participants’ characteristics between the groups. No significant effects, in reducing unmet needs, were demonstrated at the end of intervention (4-month) or 12-month follow-up. Overall, 94% used the app in weeks 1-4, which decreased to 41% in weeks 13-16. Mean app use time per participant: Cancer Information, 6.9 (SD: 18.9) minutes; Appointment Schedule, 5.1 (SD: 9.6) minutes; Cancer Services 1.5 minutes (SD: 6.8); Hospital Navigation, 1.4 (SD: 2.8) minutes. Conclusions: Despite consumer involvement in the design of this smartphone technology, the app did not reduce unmet needs. This may have been due to the study being underpowered. To contribute to a meaningful understanding and improved implementation of smartphone technology to support people affected by cancer, practical considerations, such as recruitment issues and access to, and confidence with, apps, need to be considered. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registration (ACTRN) Trial Registration: 12616001251415; WEF 7/9/2016.	en_US
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1094831
dc.relation.ispartof	Cancer Medicine	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1002/cam4.2718	en_US
dc.title	Outcomes of a randomized controlled trial assessing a smartphone Application to reduce unmet needs among people diagnosed with CancEr (ACE)	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	2	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	9	en_US
utslib.for	0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology	en_US
utslib.for	1112 Oncology and Carcinogenesis	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access
pubs.issue	2	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	9	en_US

Abstract:

© 2019 The Authors. Cancer Medicine published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Background: Smartphone technology represents an opportunity to deliver practical solutions for people affected by cancer at a scale that was previously unimaginable, such as information, appointment monitoring, and improved access to cancer support services. This study aimed to determine whether a smartphone application (app) reduced the unmet needs among people newly diagnosed with cancer. Methods: A single blind, multisite randomized controlled trial to determine the impact of an app-based, 4-month intervention. Newly diagnosed cancer patients were approached at three health service treatment clinics. Results: Eighty-two people were randomized (intervention; n = 43 and control; n = 39), average age was 59.5 years (SD: 12.9); 71% female; 67% married or in a de facto relationship. At baseline, there were no differences in participants’ characteristics between the groups. No significant effects, in reducing unmet needs, were demonstrated at the end of intervention (4-month) or 12-month follow-up. Overall, 94% used the app in weeks 1-4, which decreased to 41% in weeks 13-16. Mean app use time per participant: Cancer Information, 6.9 (SD: 18.9) minutes; Appointment Schedule, 5.1 (SD: 9.6) minutes; Cancer Services 1.5 minutes (SD: 6.8); Hospital Navigation, 1.4 (SD: 2.8) minutes. Conclusions: Despite consumer involvement in the design of this smartphone technology, the app did not reduce unmet needs. This may have been due to the study being underpowered. To contribute to a meaningful understanding and improved implementation of smartphone technology to support people affected by cancer, practical considerations, such as recruitment issues and access to, and confidence with, apps, need to be considered. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registration (ACTRN) Trial Registration: 12616001251415; WEF 7/9/2016.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/139896