Journal Article

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

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

2019

Overview

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.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Accelerometer / Accelerometers / Accelerometry - methods / Accelerometry - psychology / Adult / Aged / Behavior / Biomedical and Life Sciences / Biomedicine / Cancer patients / Cancer recurrence / Cancer Research / Cancer survivors / Cancer Survivors - psychology / Cancer treatment / Care and treatment / Cellular telephones / Clinical trials / Colorectal cancer / Colorectal carcinoma / Colorectal Neoplasms - physiopathology / Colorectal Neoplasms - psychology / Colorectal Neoplasms - therapy / Control / Digital health / Education / Educational materials / Exercise / Exercise - physiology / Exercise - psychology / Exercise Therapy - methods / Exercise Therapy - psychology / Female / Fitbit / Fitness Trackers / Health aspects / Health Promotion and Disease Prevention / Humans / Instructional materials / Internet / Intervention / Lifestyle / Male / Medical research / Medicine/Public Health / Middle Aged / Mortality / Motivation - physiology / Oncology / Patient outcomes / Physical activity / Physical fitness / Pilot Projects / Recurrence (Disease) / Research Article / Risk factors / Self Care - methods / Self Care - psychology / Statistical analysis / Studies / Supportive therapy / Surgical Oncology / survivorship and psychosocial oncology / Text Messaging / Weight control