Increasing Physical Activity Amongst Overweight and Obese Cancer Survivors Using an Alexa-Based Intelligent Agent for Patient Coaching: Protocol for the Physical Activity by Technology Help (PATH) Trial

Ahmed Hassoon, Jennifer Schrack, Daniel Naiman, Dina Lansey, Yasmin Baig, Vered Stearns, David Celentano, Seth Martin, Lawrence Appel, Ahmed Hassoon, Jennifer Schrack, Daniel Naiman, Dina Lansey, Yasmin Baig, Vered Stearns, David Celentano, Seth Martin, Lawrence Appel

Abstract

Background: Physical activity has established health benefits, but motivation and adherence remain challenging.

Objective: We designed and launched a three-arm randomized trial to test artificial intelligence technology solutions to increase daily physical activity in cancer survivors.

Methods: A single-center, three-arm randomized clinical trial with an allocation ration of 1:1:1: (A) control, in which participants are provided written materials about the benefits of physical activity; (B) text intervention, where participants receive daily motivation from a fully automated, data-driven algorithmic text message via mobile phone (Coachtext); and (C) Voice Assist intervention, where participants are provided with an in-home on demand autonomous Intelligent Agent using data driven Interactive Digital Voice Assist on the Amazon Alexa/Echo (MyCoach).

Results: The study runs for 5 weeks: a one-week run-in to establish baseline, followed by 4 weeks of intervention. Data for study outcomes is collected automatically through a wearable sensor, and data are transferred in real-time to the study server. The recruitment goal is 42 participants, 14 in each arm. Electronic health records are used to prescreen candidates, with 39 participants recruited to date.

Discussion: This study aims to investigate the effects of different types of intelligent technology solutions on promoting physical activity in cancer survivors. This innovative approach can easily be expanded and customized to other interventions. Early lessons from our initial participants are helping us develop additional advanced solutions to improve health outcomes.

Trial registration: Retrospectively registered on July 10, 2017 at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03212079; https://ichgcp.net/clinical-trials-registry/NCT03212079 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6wgvqjTji).

Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: VS received research funding from Pfizer and Novartis. SM has served on scientific advisory boards for Quest Diagnostics, Sanofi/Regeneron, Amgen, and Akcea Therapeutics. He has received research support from the PJ Schafer Cardiovascular Research Fund, David and June Trone Family Foundation, American Heart Association, Aetna Foundation, Maryland Innovation Initiative, CASCADE FH, Nokia, Google, and Apple. The rest of the authors declare no potential conflicts of interest.

©Ahmed Hassoon, Jennifer Schrack, Daniel Naiman, Dina Lansey, Yasmin Baig, Vered Stearns, David Celentano, Seth Martin, Lawrence Appel. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (http://www.researchprotocols.org), 12.02.2018.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Physical Activity by Technology Help (PATH) study design.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Coachtext architecture. JHU: Johns Hopkins University.
Figure 3
Figure 3
MyCoach architecture. JHU: Johns Hopkins University.

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Source: PubMed

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