Mobile Self Management and Support for Adolescents and Young Adults With Cancer

This study is the user testing phase of a mobile application intervention which will be designed to promote positive coping skills, illness resilience, and social support, and to serve as a complement to patient-physician interactions in adolescents and young adults (AYA) with sarcoma. User testing will be conducted with a prototype of the app. Participants will be AYA ages 13-25 with sarcoma (N=16). Study participation involves the AYAs downloading and using the app for 30 days. During the 30 days, participants will interact with the app by inputting their current mood, receiving supportive feedback from the app, reading messages, and doing brief activities (such as relaxation activities, etc.). Participants will also participate in an online focus group focused around the user experience. Before and after the 30 days of user testing, participants will complete a few brief questionnaires about their behavior, how their symptoms affect their life, and how they receive support from others. These questions will take around 20 minutes to complete at each administration.

The Pocket Coach for AYA with Cancer is a psychosocial intervention to be delivered through a mobile platform. Intervention content is based on Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and the Resilience in Illness Model [Dr. Joan E. Haase et al] and includes modules on relaxation, mindfulness, cognitions, and self-compassion.

Determined by the number of days participants use the program. Program usage will be assessed on the back end of the technology platform, which tracks how often each participant opens the app and uses any of the features. Intervention will be deemed feasible if participants use the program on at least two thirds of the 30 days in the study period (i.e., 20 out of the 30 days).

Assessed by the change in the total score on the Child and Adolescent Mindfulness Measure (CAMM) from pre-intervention to post-intervention. Calculated by subtracting the pre-intervention score from the post-intervention score. The CAMM is a 10-item measure whose total score can range from 0-40. Higher scores correspond to higher levels of mindfulness.

Inclusion Criteria: Parent or self-reported (for participants 18+ years old) physician diagnosis of sarcoma Daily use of a smartphone (iOS, Android, or Windows) or tablet Current Facebook account that participant can use to participate in the focus group (or, be willing to create a Facebook account for this purpose). Able and willing to give informed assent and comply with study requirements For patients aged 13-17 years, have one caregiver willing and able to participate in the study Able to read and speak English Exclusion Criteria: Patients that are not able to participate in the study due to their medical condition and/or treatment regimen, as determined by the patients' treating oncologist in conjunction with patients' family members Inability to provide informed assent/permission/consent Inability to read, speak, and understand English

Donovan E, Martin SR, Seidman LC, Zeltzer LK, Cousineau TM, Payne LA, Knoll M, Weiman M, Federman NC. The Role of Social Media in Providing Support from Friends for Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Patients and Survivors of Sarcoma: Perspectives of AYA, Parents, and Providers. J Adolesc Young Adult Oncol. 2021 Dec;10(6):720-725. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2020.0200. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Donovan E, Martin SR, Seidman LC, Zeltzer LK, Cousineau TM, Payne LA, Trant M, Weiman M, Knoll M, Federman NC. A Mobile-Based Mindfulness and Social Support Program for Adolescents and Young Adults With Sarcoma: Development and Pilot Testing. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2019 Mar 18;7(3):e10921. doi: 10.2196/10921.