A Study of Strengthening Teen Brain Resilience Using Music During Cancer Treatment

Strengthening Teen Brain Resilience Using Music (STRUM) During Cancer Treatment: A Pilot Feasibility Trial

This clinical trial tests the feasibility and acceptability of the Strengthening Teen Brain Resilience Using Music (STRUM) intervention to improve radiation induced cognitive decline for adolescents undergoing radiation therapy for cancer treatment. Adolescents treated with radiation therapy for cancer often experience persistent cognitive deficits and reduced brain resilience or the ability to preserve cognitive and emotional functioning despite stressors. Musical instrument training has been shown to enhance memory, academic skills, and emotional well-being in youth. Although guitars are often the most preferred instrument, ukuleles offer greater accessibility due to their simplicity, affordability, and suitability for younger users. The STRUM intervention consists of virtual active music therapy ukulele lessons, which may be a feasible and acceptable way to improve radiation induced cognitive decline for adolescents undergoing radiation therapy for cancer treatment.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Malignant Solid Neoplasm; Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm; Childhood Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm; Childhood Malignant Solid Neoplasm
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Survey Administration; Other: Interview; Procedure: Music Therapy

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Robert Bennett, PhD, RN; Phone Number: 480-301-4394; Email: bennett.robert@mayo.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Arizona
    • Scottsdale, Arizona, United States, 85259
      • Mayo Clinic in Arizona
      • Principal Investigator: C. Robert Bennett, PhD, RN
      • Contact: Robert Bennett, PhD, RN; Phone Number: 480-301-4394

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 12-17 years at the time of enrollment
• Receiving initial radiation therapy (RT) for cancer treatment with curative intent at the Mayo Clinic Arizona
• Able to provide assent
• Able to read and write in English
• Have access to an electronic device with videoconferencing capability

Exclusion Criteria:

• Less than three-month prognosis
• Past history of RT
• Self-reported visual, hearing, or cognitive impairment impeding the ability to complete the STRUM intervention
• Prior receipt of ukulele or guitar lessons
• Actively receiving musical instrument lessons

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Supportive care (STRUM sessions); Patients receive a ukulele, tuner, and songbook and attend virtually delivered ukulele lessons over 30 minutes each, once weekly, for 10 weeks. Intervention sessions are structured with stair-stepping difficulty with each lesson concluding with learning a new song. Ten optional supplemental video-recorded lessons (approximately 15 minutes each) will be available for patients to view asynchronously and use for independent practice between weekly sessions. Patients are encouraged to practice their skills independently for at least 90 minutes per week. At the conclusion of the study, patients may attend an optional virtual "Encore Concert Event" remotely, featuring audio-video clips compiled from participants' lessons.

Other: Survey Administration; Ancillary studies; Other: Interview; Ancillary studies; Procedure: Music Therapy; Attend STRUM sessions

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Percentage of eligible participants who consent to participate in this study (feasibility)	Feasibility defined as achieving a ≥ 70% consent rate among eligible participants.	At time of enrollment
Proportion of STRUM sessions completed (feasibility)	Participants will receive 10 weekly 30-minute virtual ukulele lessons over ten weeks. Basic descriptive statistical analyses will be performed.	Up to 10 weeks
Average weekly practice minutes	Assessed by patient self-report. Participants will be encouraged to practice their skills independently for at least 90 minutes per week. Basic descriptive statistical analyses will be performed.	Up to 10 weeks
Percentage of participants who complete ≥ 90% of the measures at each timepoint (feasibility)	Basic descriptive statistical analyses will be performed.	Baseline, week 6, week 12, week 20
Acceptability of the Strengthening Teen Brain Resilience Using Music (STRUM) intervention	Defined as mean Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM) score of ≥ 3/4, supported by exit interview feedback. Basic descriptive statistical analyses will be performed. The AIM is a study-specific measure that consists of 4 questions, each answered on a scale of 1 (completely disagree) to 5 (completely agree). Higher scores indicate greater acceptability.	Approximately 2 weeks following end of intervention (week 12)
Participant perspective on meaningfulness of the STRUM intervention	Assessed by exit interview feedback. Participants will complete semi-structured exit interviews (approximately 30-minute duration). Exit interview transcripts will be analyzed and coded using thematic analyses. Thematic findings will be used to refine the intervention design and delivery.	Approximately 2 weeks following end of intervention (week 12)
Change in brain resilience	Assessed by cognitive testing using the BrainCheck Assess™ digital platform. Each testing session should take approximately 15 minutes. Standard aggregate scores range from 0-200 with lower scores generally suggesting greater cognitive impairment.	Baseline, week 6, week 12, week 20

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Mayo Clinic
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: C. Robert Bennett, PhD, RN, Mayo Clinic

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 22, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 22, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): July 27, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 27, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 22, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation; Investigative Techniques; Epidemiologic Methods; Therapeutics; Data Collection; Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms; Quality of Health Care; Public Health; Environment and Public Health; Complementary Therapies; Patient Care; Psychotherapy; Behavioral Disciplines and Activities; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Sensory Art Therapies; Interviews as Topic; Music Therapy
• Other Study ID Numbers: 25-014110; NCI-2026-03943 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No