Facebook-based Physical Activity Intervention for Young Adult Cancer Survivors: the FITNET Randomized Pilot Study (FITNET)

December 12, 2011 updated by: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
The purpose of this study is to determine the feasibility and efficacy of a behavioral intervention, delivered through an existing social networking website (Facebook), on physical activity (moderate-intensity minutes per week) among young adult cancer survivors compared to a self-help education condition. For this research study, investigators will conduct a 12-week randomized trial. After a baseline survey, weekly messages, a pedometer, goal-setting tool, physical activity log and discussion prompts will be delivered to the intervention group. Comparison group participants will receive links to websites with self-help education materials. After 12 weeks, a follow-up survey will be given to both groups. Changes in physical activity, quality of life and psychosocial factors will be examined. The investigators hypothesize that those receiving the intervention will have improved physical activity behaviors at 12-week follow-up relative to those in the comparison group.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

97

Phase

  • Early Phase 1

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

  • United States
    • North Carolina
      • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599
        • Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at UNC-CH

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

Ages Eligible for Study

21 years to 39 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Young adult between ages 21-39 diagnosed with cancer (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) at age 18 or older
  • At least 1 year beyond date of diagnosis with no evidence of progressive disease or second primary cancers
  • Completed cancer treatment
  • English-speaking and writing
  • No pre-existing medical condition(s) or contraindications that preclude adherence to an unsupervised exercise program, including cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure, pulmonary conditions, renal disease, and severe orthopedic conditions
  • Not adhering to the American Cancer Society's recommendation of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week (<150 minutes/week)
  • Have access to Internet service and an active Facebook account
  • Willing to be randomized
  • Have indicated consent by checking "yes" to the online consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Non-English speaking
  • < 21 and > 39 years of age
  • Diagnosed with cancer less than one year previously or still in treatment
  • Pre-existing medical condition(s) that preclude adherence to an unsupervised exercise program, including cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure, pulmonary conditions, renal disease, and severe orthopedic conditions

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
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Facebook-based Self-help Comparison
Participants will receive a pedometer and twelve weekly messages with links to Internet resources that have educational materials related to exercise and cancer survivorship.
Behavioral: Facebook-based Self-help Comparison
Twelve weekly messages and a pedometer.
Experimental: Facebook-based Messages/Website
Participants will receive a pedometer, twelve weekly messages, and be encouraged to participate in sixteen Facebook group discussions and use a website for exercise goal-setting and tracking activity.
Behavioral: Facebook-based Messages/Website
Twelve weekly messages, a pedometer, sixteen group discussions, and access to an exercise website to promote increased physical activity.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Primary study outcome measures at the participant level will be minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week and exercise in MET-hrs/week.
Time Frame: Participants will be assessed at baseline (before 12-week study period) and after 12 weeks.
Participants will be assessed at baseline (before 12-week study period) and after 12 weeks.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Quality of life
Time Frame: Participants will be assessed at baseline (before 12-week study period) and after 12 weeks.
Participants will be assessed at baseline (before 12-week study period) and after 12 weeks.
Psychosocial factors
Time Frame: Participants will be assessed at baseline (before 12-week study period) and after 12 weeks.
Examine potential mediators of the effect of the intervention, including changes in self-efficacy, social support and self-monitoring behaviors
Participants will be assessed at baseline (before 12-week study period) and after 12 weeks.
Utilization of program components/activities
Time Frame: Participants will be assessed at baseline (before 12-week study period) and after 12 weeks.
Participants will be assessed at baseline (before 12-week study period) and after 12 weeks.
Perceptions of program components/activities
Time Frame: Participants will be assessed at baseline (before 12-week study period) and after 12 weeks.
Participants will be assessed at baseline (before 12-week study period) and after 12 weeks.
Communication factors
Time Frame: Participants will be assessed at baseline (before 12-week study period) and after 12 weeks.
Examine potential mediators of the effect of the intervention, including message trust, relevance and recall
Participants will be assessed at baseline (before 12-week study period) and after 12 weeks.

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Marci K. Campbell, PhD, MPH, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • Principal Investigator: Carmina G. Valle, MPH, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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

April 1, 2011

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2011

Study Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2011

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 2, 2011

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 4, 2011

First Posted (Estimate)

May 6, 2011

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

December 13, 2011

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 12, 2011

Last Verified

December 1, 2011

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 10-2150

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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