Self-monitoring and reminder text messages to increase physical activity in colorectal cancer survivors (Smart Pace): a pilot randomized controlled trial

Erin L Van Blarigan, Hilary Chan, Katherine Van Loon, Stacey A Kenfield, June M Chan, Emily Mitchell, Li Zhang, Alan Paciorek, Galen Joseph, Angela Laffan, Chloe E Atreya, Yoshimi Fukuoka, Christine Miaskowski, Jeffrey A Meyerhardt, Alan P Venook, Erin L Van Blarigan, Hilary Chan, Katherine Van Loon, Stacey A Kenfield, June M Chan, Emily Mitchell, Li Zhang, Alan Paciorek, Galen Joseph, Angela Laffan, Chloe E Atreya, Yoshimi Fukuoka, Christine Miaskowski, Jeffrey A Meyerhardt, Alan P Venook

Abstract

Background: Over 1.3 million people live with colorectal cancer in the United States. Physical activity is associated with lower risk of colorectal cancer recurrence and mortality. Interventions are needed to increase physical activity in colorectal cancer survivors.

Methods: We conducted a 2-arm non-blinded pilot randomized controlled trial at the University of California, San Francisco among 42 individuals who had completed curative-intent treatment for colorectal cancer to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week (84 days) physical activity intervention using a Fitbit Flex™ and daily text messages. Participants were randomized 1:1 to receive the intervention with print educational materials or print educational materials alone. We explored the impact of the intervention versus usual care on physical activity using ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometers pre-/post-intervention.

Results: We screened 406 individuals and randomized 42 to intervention (n = 21) or control (n = 21) groups. During the 12-week study, the intervention arm wore their Fitbits a median of 74 days [88% of days in study period, interquartile range: 23-83 days] and responded to a median of 34 (out of 46) text messages that asked for a reply (interquartile range: 13-38 text messages). Among the 16 intervention participants who completed the feedback survey, the majority (88%) reported that the intervention motivated them to exercise and that they were satisfied with their experience. No statistically significant difference in change in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was found from baseline to 12 weeks between arms.

Conclusion: A 12-week physical activity intervention with a Fitbit and text messages was feasible and acceptable among colorectal cancer patients after curative treatment. Larger studies are needed to determine whether the intervention increases physical activity.

Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT02966054 . Registered 17 November 2016, retrospectively registered.

Keywords: Accelerometer; Cancer survivor; Colorectal cancer; Digital health; Exercise; Fitbit; Intervention; Lifestyle.

Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Institutional Review Board approved this study, and all participants provided informed consent.

Consent for publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Consort Flow Diagram of a pilot randomized controlled trial of a physical activity intervention among individuals with colon or rectal cancer. Lost to follow-up defined as not completing the 12-week accelerometer assessment
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
a Number of participants who wore their Fitbit by study day. b Number of participants who responded to each of the 46 text messages that asked for a response
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Acceptability of 12-weeks of text messages and a Fitbit Flex to individuals with colorectal cancer. 16 intervention arm participants completed the feedback survey. All values reported are N, %

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Source: PubMed

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