The Longitudinal Relationship of HU Adherence to HRQOL, Barriers to Adherence and Habit in SCD.

July 30, 2026 updated by: Sherif Badawy, MD, Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

The Longitudinal Relationship of Hydroxyurea Adherence Behavior to Health-related Quality of Life, Barriers to Adherence and Habit Formation in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease.

The primary objective of this study is to better understand factors contributing to variations in hydroxyurea (HU) adherence behavior in adolescents and young adults (AYA) with sickle cell disease (SCD). To meet this objective, the researchers will conduct a prospective cohort study to determine the longitudinal relationship between HU adherence and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) overtime among AYA with SCD. The long-term goal of this research is to promote medication adherence behavior and improve health outcomes in AYA with SCD.

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

Sickle cell disease is the most common genetic disorder in the US, affecting about 100,000 Americans, and about 1 in 400 African American live births, incurring annual health care costs of $335 million. SCD can lead to serious complications including unpredictable, debilitating pain episodes, cardiopulmonary disease, stroke, and long-term end organ damage.These complications lead to significant declines in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and other patient-reported outcomes (PROs), culminating in early mortality, particularly among AYA. Hydroxyurea, at present, is the main FDA approved medication for SCD that reduces morbidity and mortality, improves HRQoL and lowers healthcare utilization.However, adherence to HU remains suboptimal with only 35-50% of patients achieving high adherence (≥90%), particularly among AYA with SCD. Low HU adherence has been associated with worse health outcomes, poor HRQOL and increased healthcare utilization. Low HU adherence is multifactorial, especially in AYA with other competing priorities and vulnerability in developmental and psychological factors contributing to adherence behavior. The specific aim for this study is to determine the longitudinal relationship of HU adherence behavior to health-related quality of life, barriers to adherence and habit formation among AYA with SCD.

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.
68

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 Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Illinois
      • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
        • Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

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 21 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 12-21 years old
  • Any sickle cell disease genotype
  • On steady state of hydroxyurea for 2 months
  • Own or have access to a smartphone
  • Parents of patients that meet the eligibility criteria and are enrolled in the study will be included

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with recent hospitalizations within the past 7 days

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: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

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.
Other: HU-Go app intervention arm
Participants will use the HU-Go app intervention arm for 12 months.
Other: HU-Go app
A novel multifunctional mobile app (HU-Go) to improve adherence to hydroxyurea in patients with sickle cell disease

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
Hydroxyurea adherence rate
Time Frame: 12 months
Adherence rate is defined as number of given HU doses given, as captured by HU-Go app, divided by total number of doses expected during study period.
12 months

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
Adherence to Hydroxyurea using Visual Analogue Scale
Time Frame: 12 months
Numerical value on a scale 0-100% (higher score indicating higher adherence to hydroxyurea)
12 months
Pain score using Patient reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) measure
Time Frame: 12 months
Patient reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) measure for pain intensity, numerical value on a scale of 0-100 points, normal average for the general population is 50 with standard deviation of 10 points (higher T scores indicating worse pain).
12 months
Fatigue score using Patient reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) measure
Time Frame: 12 months
Patient reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) measure for fatigue, numerical value on a scale of 0-100 points, normal average for the general population is 50 with standard deviation of 10 points (higher T scores indicating worse fatigue).
12 months
Physical function score using Patient reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) measure
Time Frame: 12 months
Patient reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) measure for physical function, numerical value on a scale of 0-100 points, normal average for the general population is 50 with standard deviation of 10 points (lower T scores indicating worse physical function).
12 months
Depression score using Patient reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) measure
Time Frame: 12 months
Patient reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) measure for depression, numerical value on a scale of 0-100 points, normal average for the general population is 50 with standard deviation of 10 points (higher T scores indicating worse depression).
12 months
Anxiety score using Patient reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) measure
Time Frame: 12 months
Patient reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) measure for anxiety, numerical value on a scale of 0-100 points, normal average for the general population is 50 with standard deviation of 10 points (higher T scores indicating worse anxiety).
12 months
Peer relationships score using Patient reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) measure
Time Frame: 12 months
Patient reported outcomes measurement information system (PROMIS) measure for peer relationships, numerical value on a scale of 0-100 points, normal average for the general population is 50 with standard deviation of 10 points (lower T scores indicating worse peer relationships).
12 months
Codes and themes from qualitative data analysis
Time Frame: 12 months
Semi-structured interviews focused on HU taking behavior, barriers to adherence and habit formation
12 months
Adherence to Hydroxyurea using PROMIS Medication Adherence Scale (PMAS)
Time Frame: 12 months
Higher score indicating higher adherence to hydroxyurea
12 months

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.
Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

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.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

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: Sherif M. Badawy, MD, MS, Ann & Robert H Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

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.
March 2, 2021

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.
June 18, 2024

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.
May 29, 2025

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).
December 24, 2020

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.
December 29, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

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.
December 31, 2020

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.
July 31, 2026

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.
July 30, 2026

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.
July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

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.
  • IRB 2020-3366
  • 1K23HL150232 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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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