Teens Taking Charge: Managing Cancer Online

October 7, 2019 updated by: Jennifer Stinson, The Hospital for Sick Children

Teens Taking Charge: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of an Online Self-Management and Transitional Care Program for Youth With Cancer

Cancer is the most common potentially fatal disease of adolescence and the Internet represents an ideal means to deliver education, self-monitoring capabilities, and social support to enhance disease self-management by adolescents with cancer. While two interactive coping websites exist for young people with cancer, they are: (1) not interactive, (2) do not focus on helping youth gain skills for transition and independence, and (3) do not provide opportunities for meaningful social support. In summary, there is a crucial need to develop a comprehensive interactive Internet-based self-management program targeting AWC that is comprised of cancer education, self-management skills, and opportunities for social support, and that is cost-effective.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Overall aim of this program of research is to develop and evaluate the "Teens Taking Charge: Managing Cancer Online" Internet intervention that will help AWC to better cope with their disease, improve their HRQL, and enhance readiness to transition to adult health care using a sequential phased approach. The first phase of this project has determined the self-management and transitional care needs of adolescents with cancer. The second phase consisted of website development and usability testing to ensure the website is easy to use and understand, and is efficient and satisfying to complete. Subsequently, we will assess the feasibility of the program and the outcomes from the use of the site in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) pilot study (Phase 3). This will inform the design and methods of the main trial, and will permit us to obtain estimates of treatment effects on AWC health outcomes to inform the calculation of an appropriate sample size for the future definitive RCT (Phase 4). The focus of this study is Phase 3. Phase 4 will be a multicentre randomized controlled trial to assess outcomes for teens that complete the intervention as compared to those of an attention control group.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
73

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Canada
    • Ontario
      • Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4K1
        • McMaster Children's Hospital
      • Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1H 8L1
        • Children's Hospital Eastern Ontario
    • Quebec
      • Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3T 1C5
        • CHU Sainte-Justine

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

12 years to 18 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Parents and adolescents will be eligible to participate if the adolescents are:

    1. between 12-18 years of age
    2. diagnosed with cancer (at least 3 months from diagnosis)
    3. on active treatment
    4. able to speak and read English and/or French at a Grade 6 level

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Adolescents will be excluded if they:

    1. have major cognitive impairments
    2. have reduced executive function that may impact their ability to understand and use the online program
    3. are terminal/palliative as determined by their oncologist Parents/caregivers are not eligible to participate in the study alone (without an adolescent)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Control Group
Behavioral: Standard Medical Care and Cancer Resource Center
The control group is designed to control for the potential effects on outcomes of time, attention and computer use during the intervention. In addition to standard medical care, adolescents in the attention control group will be provided with access to a self-guided patient education study website, which will have two components: basic patient educational materials about Cancer ("Cancer Resource Centre") and online assessments.
Experimental: Taking Charge Experimental Group
Behavioral: Taking Charge: Managing Cancer Online
n addition to standard medical care, adolescents in the experimental group will receive the "Taking Charge: Managing Cancer Online" Internet self-management program. The intervention is a 12-module interactive multi-component treatment protocol that consists of Cancer-specific education, self-management strategies, and social support that is available in English and French.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Participant Accrual and Dropout Rates
Time Frame: 12 weeks
These rates will be centrally tracked by the Clinical Research Project Coordinator
12 weeks
Fidelity (Any issues or difficulties encountered during implementation of the intervention, control strategy, or outcome measures)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Any issues or difficulties encountered during implementation of the intervention, control strategy, or outcome measures will be tracked throughout the study by the Clinical Research Project Coordinator
12 weeks
Acceptability and Satisfaction with Intervention (rate their acceptability of and satisfaction with the intervention)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Post-treatment, adolescents with cancer and their parents in the intervention group will rate their acceptability of and satisfaction with the intervention
12 weeks
Engagement with Intervention (Google Analytics will be used to track patterns of website program usage)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Google Analytics will be used to track patterns of website program usage by adolescents with cancer and their parents
12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Knowledge (Adolescent Cancer Knowledge Questionnaire)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Measured using the Adolescent Cancer Knowledge Questionnaire, a 15-item tool that assesses cancer-specific knowledge.
12 weeks
Self-Efficacy (Generalized Self-Efficacy-Sherer Scale)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Measured by the Generalized Self-Efficacy-Sherer Scale, a 12-item scale that requires adolescents to indicate their level of agreement with a series of statements about self-efficacy.
12 weeks
Treatment adherence (Medication Adherence Scale)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Measured with the Medication Adherence Scale, a 4-item scale for assessing self-reported adherence.
12 weeks
Physical Symptoms - Pain (short form Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Measured using the short form Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), a 15-item measure that includes scales for measuring pain intensity, impact of pain on functioning and well being, and pain interference.
12 weeks
Physical Symptoms - Fatigue (PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Module)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Measured using the PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Module, an 18-item scale with validated versions for child report (ages 8-12 years), teen report (ages 13-18 years), and parental report for children and teens.
12 weeks
Emotional symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), a 14-item measure for individuals aged >12 years, which can be completed within 2-5 minutes.
12 weeks
Social functioning (Perceived Social Support from Friends (PSS-Fr) Scale)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Measured with the Perceived Social Support from Friends (PSS-Fr) Scale, a 20-item scale that assesses the extent to which an individual perceives that their friends fulfill their needs for support.
12 weeks
Transition readiness (Cancer Transition Scales)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Measured with the Cancer Transition Scales, which include sub-scales for 'cancer worry' (6 items), 'self-management skills' (15 items), and 'expectations' (12 items).
12 weeks
Health Related Quality of Life (PedsQL Cancer Module)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
measured with the PedsQL Cancer Module, a 27-item scale, which has validated versions for child, teen, and parental report, and the Health Utility Index [HUI].
12 weeks
Cost effectiveness (ascertaining direct health care costs and family out of pocket costs)
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Measured by ascertaining direct health care costs and family out of pocket costs related to cancer care incurred over the 12-week study period using the Health Care Utilization form modified from the Ambulatory and Home Care Record84-90 as well as direct costs related to the online intervention technology, intervention training and personnel. Quality adjusted life years will be calculated using the HUI to determine the incremental cost-effectiveness
12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
The Hospital for Sick Children

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
McGill University
University of Alberta
McMaster University
Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation
Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario
Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences
St. Justine's Hospital
Université de Montréal

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Jennifer N Stinson, PhD, CPNP, The Hospital for Sick Children

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
January 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 1, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 1, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
November 17, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
November 21, 2014

First Posted (Estimate)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
November 24, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
October 9, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 7, 2019

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2019

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 1000045896

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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