Heuristic Tool To Improve Symptom Self-Management in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer

May 20, 2026 updated by: Virginia Commonwealth University

A Randomized Controlled Trial Using a Heuristic Tool To Improve Symptom Self-Management in Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer

Determine the effects of the Computerized Symptom Assessment Tool (C-SCAT) versus usual care on the primary outcomes of self-efficacy for symptom management and symptom self-management behaviors

Study Overview

Status

Status

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

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

This is a multi-site two-group randomized control trial (RCT) design to evaluate the effects of the Computerized Symptom Assessment Tool (C-SCAT) for improving symptom self-management versus usual care in 126 adolescents and young adults (AYAs) who are within the first three months of a diagnosis of cancer and who are receiving cancer treatment. For this study, cancer treatment will be defined as a prescribed infusion ( e.g., chemotherapy, immunotherapy).

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 (Estimated)

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.
126

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 Locations

  • United States
    • Missouri
      • Kansas City, Missouri, United States, 64108
        • Recruiting
        • Children's Mercy Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Kristin Stegenga
    • Utah
      • Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84113
        • Recruiting
        • University of Utah Primary Children's Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Lauri Linder
      • Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84112
        • Recruiting
        • University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI)
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Lauri Linder
    • Virginia
      • Richmond, Virginia, United States, 23298
        • Recruiting
        • Virginia Commonwealth University
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Ronald Elswick, PhD
    • Washington
      • Seattle, Washington, United States, 98105
        • Active, not recruiting
        • Seattle Children's Hospital @ University of Washington

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

  • Child
  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Has received at least 1 cycle of cancer treatment and is within 3 months of receiving that first cycle of treatment
  • Receiving regularly scheduled cancer treatment and will be receiving at least three more cycles
  • Reports at least 1 symptom related to cancer and/or its treatment
  • Able to speak, read, and write English as required for completion of the C-SCAT and study measures

Exclusion Criteria:

- Cognitive and/or physical inability to complete study measures.

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: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel 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.
Experimental: Computerized Symptom Assessment Tool C-SCAT
Participants will be asked to complete the C-SCAT at three of their clinic visits for cancer treatment in addition to usual care for assessing symptoms. This intervention period will last up to about 12 weeks, depending on cancer treatment schedule (for example, every 2, 3 or 4 weeks).
Behavioral: Computerized Symptom Capture Tool (C-SCAT) Intervention
The C-SCAT includes the 32 symptoms from the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). Users select symptoms they have experienced over the past week, rate each symptom's severity and distress, and name a perceived cause. They then identify temporal and causal relationships between symptoms using lines and arrows, designate groups, i.e., "clusters" of symptoms, and give a name to each cluster. They are asked the reason for a symptom's designation as a priority symptom and what they do to alleviate that symptom. Next, they are asked to designate a priority cluster and finally, to confirm whether the image accurately reflects their symptom experience. Then, at the clinic visit, the AYA shares the visual image with the HCP, and more importantly, their priority symptoms, which can facilitate the symptom discussion. The C-SCAT intervention group will complete the C-SCAT prior to each of three encounters with their health care providers (HCPs).
Active Comparator: Usual Care Control Group
Participants will follow usual care for cancer symptoms for up to 12 weeks, depending on how cancer treatment schedule (for example, every 2, 3 or 4 weeks).
Behavioral: Usual Care Control
Usual care is defined as the usual approach to assessing symptoms during the HCP encounter. To provide attentional control to the usual care control group and prevent disproportionate attrition from that group, study staff will contact participants three times during the intervention period (approximately 3 months) when they are in for a scheduled clinic visit and communicate the following: 1) express appreciation for ongoing study participation; 2) ask how everything is going with their treatment; 3) ask if anything has changed with their treatment plan since the last study visit; and 4) confirm continued participation in the study.

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
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on the primary outcomes of self-efficacy for symptom management immediately post intervention (Time 1) by comparing the scores from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System®; PROMIS® Scale.
Time Frame: Baseline- Week 0
Self-efficacy for symptom management will be assessed with the PROMIS® Self Efficacy for Symptom Management Scale that contains 28 items and assess the person's current level of confidence to manage/control symptoms, manage symptoms in different settings, and keep symptoms from interfering with work, relationships, or activities. Response options are on a 5-point Likert scale (1=I am not confident at all; 5=I am very confident). Scores are summed across items, and higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy
Baseline- Week 0
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on the primary outcomes of self-efficacy for symptom management immediately post intervention (Time 1) by comparing the scores from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System®; PROMIS® Scale.
Time Frame: 2 weeks post intervention (Timepoint 1)
Self-efficacy for symptom management will be assessed with the PROMIS® Self Efficacy for Symptom Management Scale that contains 28 items and assess the person's current level of confidence to manage/control symptoms, manage symptoms in different settings, and keep symptoms from interfering with work, relationships, or activities. Response options are on a 5-point Likert scale (1=I am not confident at all; 5=I am very confident). Scores are summed across items, and higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy
2 weeks post intervention (Timepoint 1)
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on the primary outcomes of self-efficacy for symptom management at follow up (Time 2) by comparing the scores from the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System®; PROMIS® Scale.
Time Frame: 4 weeks following Timepoint 1 (Timepoint 2)
Self-efficacy for symptom management will be assessed with the PROMIS® Self Efficacy for Symptom Management Scale that contains 28 items and assess the person's current level of confidence to manage/control symptoms, manage symptoms in different settings, and keep symptoms from interfering with work, relationships, or activities. Response options are on a 5-point Likert scale (1=I am not confident at all; 5=I am very confident). Scores are summed across items, and higher scores indicate greater self-efficacy
4 weeks following Timepoint 1 (Timepoint 2)
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on the primary outcomes of symptom self-management behaviors immediately post intervention (Time 1) by comparing the scores from the Symptom Self-management Behaviors Tool (SSMBT).
Time Frame: Baseline- Week 0
The SSMBT contains 12 items with two subscales: Manage Symptoms (8 items) that addresses behaviors related to managing their symptoms, and Talk to Healthcare Provider (4 items) that addresses behaviors related to communicating with their HCP about their symptoms. Items are scored using a 5-point Likert scale (0=never/rarely; 4=always). Scores are summed across all items. Higher scores indicate higher engagement in SS-M behaviors.
Baseline- Week 0
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on the primary outcomes of symptom self-management behaviors immediately post intervention (Time 1) by comparing the scores from the Symptom Self-management Behaviors Tool (SSMBT).
Time Frame: 2 weeks post intervention (Timepoint 1)
The SSMBT contains 12 items with two subscales: Manage Symptoms (8 items) that addresses behaviors related to managing their symptoms, and Talk to Healthcare Provider (4 items) that addresses behaviors related to communicating with their HCP about their symptoms. Items are scored using a 5-point Likert scale (0=never/rarely; 4=always). Scores are summed across all items. Higher scores indicate higher engagement in SS-M behaviors.
2 weeks post intervention (Timepoint 1)
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on the primary outcomes of symptom self-management behaviors at follow up (Time 2) by comparing the scores from the Symptom Self-management Behaviors Tool (SSMBT).
Time Frame: 4 weeks following Timepoint 1 (Timepoint 2)
The SSMBT contains 12 items with two subscales: Manage Symptoms (8 items) that addresses behaviors related to managing their symptoms, and Talk to Healthcare Provider (4 items) that addresses behaviors related to communicating with their HCP about their symptoms. Items are scored using a 5-point Likert scale (0=never/rarely; 4=always). Scores are summed across all items. Higher scores indicate higher engagement in SS-M behaviors.
4 weeks following Timepoint 1 (Timepoint 2)

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
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on secondary outcomes (symptom severity) at baseline, by comparing the scores from the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS).
Time Frame: Baseline-Week 0
Symptom severity in the past week will be assessed with the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). Participants rate the severity on a 4-point Likert scale (1=slightly; 4=very severe), and the distress on a 5-point Likert scale (0=none; 4=very much).
Baseline-Week 0
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on secondary outcomes (symptom severity) immediately post intervention (Time 1) by comparing the scores from the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS).
Time Frame: 2 weeks post intervention (Timepoint 1)
Symptom severity in the past week will be assessed with the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). Participants rate the severity on a 4-point Likert scale (1=slightly; 4=very severe), and the distress on a 5-point Likert scale (0=none; 4=very much).
2 weeks post intervention (Timepoint 1)
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on secondary outcomes (symptom severity) immediately post intervention (Time 2) by comparing the scores from the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS).
Time Frame: 4 weeks following Timepoint 1 (Timepoint 2)
Symptom severity in the past week will be assessed with the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). Participants rate the severity on a 4-point Likert scale (1=slightly; 4=very severe), and the distress on a 5-point Likert scale (0=none; 4=very much).
4 weeks following Timepoint 1 (Timepoint 2)
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on secondary outcomes (symptom distress), at baseline, by comparing the scores from the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS).
Time Frame: Baseline- Week 0
Symptom distress in the past week will be assessed with the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). Participants rate the distress on a 4-point Likert scale (1=slightly; 4=very severe), and the distress on a 5-point Likert scale (0=none; 4=very much).
Baseline- Week 0
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on secondary outcomes (symptom distress) immediately post intervention (Time 1) by comparing the scores from the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS).
Time Frame: 2 weeks post intervention (Timepoint 1)
Symptom distress in the past week will be assessed with the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). Participants rate the distress on a 4-point Likert scale (1=slightly; 4=very severe), and the distress on a 5-point Likert scale (0=none; 4=very much).
2 weeks post intervention (Timepoint 1)
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on secondary outcomes (symptom distress) immediately post intervention (Time 2) by comparing the scores from the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS).
Time Frame: 4 weeks following Timepoint 1 (Timepoint 2)
Symptom distress in the past week will be assessed with the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS). Participants rate the distress on a 4-point Likert scale (1=slightly; 4=very severe), and the distress on a 5-point Likert scale (0=none; 4=very much).
4 weeks following Timepoint 1 (Timepoint 2)
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on secondary outcomes (social function) at baseline, by comparing the PROMIS SF v2.0 Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities scores.
Time Frame: Baseline- Week 0
Quality of life (QOL) social function will be assessed with the PROMIS SF v2.0 Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities. It contains 8 items, is scored on a 5-point Likert response scale (5=never; 1=always)
Baseline- Week 0
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on secondary outcomes (social function) immediately post intervention (Time 1) by comparing the PROMIS SF v2.0 Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities scores.
Time Frame: 2 weeks post intervention (Timepoint 1)
Quality of life (QOL) social function will be assessed with the PROMIS SF v2.0 Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities. It contains 8 items, is scored on a 5-point Likert response scale (5=never; 1=always)
2 weeks post intervention (Timepoint 1)
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on secondary outcomes (social function) post intervention (Time 2) by comparing the PROMIS SF v2.0 Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities scores.
Time Frame: 4 weeks following Timepoint 1 (Timepoint 2)
Quality of life (QOL) social function will be assessed with the PROMIS SF v2.0 Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities. It contains 8 items, is scored on a 5-point Likert response scale (5=never; 1=always)
4 weeks following Timepoint 1 (Timepoint 2)
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on secondary outcomes (satisfaction with social function) post intervention (Time 2) by comparing the PROMIS SF v2.0 Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities.
Time Frame: Baseline -week 0
QOL satisfaction with social function will be assessed with the PROMIS SF v2.0 Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities. It contains eight items, is scored on a 5-point Likert response scale (1=not at all; 5=very much)
Baseline -week 0
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on secondary outcomes (satisfaction with social function) post intervention (Time 2) by comparing the PROMIS SF v2.0 Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities.
Time Frame: 2 weeks post intervention (Timepoint 1)
QOL satisfaction with social function will be assessed with the PROMIS SF v2.0 Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities. It contains eight items, is scored on a 5-point Likert response scale (1=not at all; 5=very much)
2 weeks post intervention (Timepoint 1)
Effects of the C-SCAT versus usual care on secondary outcomes (satisfaction with social function) post intervention (Time 2) by comparing the PROMIS SF v2.0 Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities.
Time Frame: 4 weeks following Timepoint 1 (Timepoint 2)
QOL satisfaction with social function will be assessed with the PROMIS SF v2.0 Satisfaction with Social Roles and Activities. It contains eight items, is scored on a 5-point Likert response scale (1=not at all; 5=very much)
4 weeks following Timepoint 1 (Timepoint 2)

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.
Virginia Commonwealth University

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 Cancer Institute (NCI)

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: Ronald Elswick, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University

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 4, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

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.
August 31, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

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.
August 31, 2027

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).
July 14, 2023

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.
July 14, 2023

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.
July 24, 2023

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.
May 22, 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.
May 20, 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.
May 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.
  • MCC-22-20031
  • HM20025194 (Other Identifier: Virginia Commonwealth University)
  • SSU00210247 (Other Identifier: Advarra)
  • 1R01CA286799-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

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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