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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05863702

Staying Healthy With Follow-up Care: A Mobile Chatbot Feasibility Study for AYA Cancer Survivors

The purpose of this project is to identify effective strategies to assist survivors of childhood and young adult cancers (diagnosed between birth and age 39) who have not returned for follow-up cancer care for 3 or more years, to reengage with the health care system. The investigator will evaluate the effect of a novel, bidirectional conversational agent ("Penny"), compared to usual care, to assist patients with scheduling appointments, lab work as well as scans and specialty appointments as needed.

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Key information

Conditions

Survivorship

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

About this study

To achieve this, the investigator will use a two-arm randomized controlled trial to explore how multilevel factors impact the acceptability and effectiveness of this strategy by collecting qualitative and quantitative data from patients. Penny is a conversational agent ("chatbot") that engages patients in real time via text messaging, allowing for bidirectional communication and motivational cues to promote adherence. The chatbot will assist patients who have not been see for cancer follow-up care, with scheduling follow-up appointments, labs, scans, specialty appointments, and monitor compliance with the appointments made.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adult patient (age > 18 years), male or female, diagnosed with cancer as a child or as a young adult, between birth and 39 years of age
  • Patient possession of a mobile device that can receive SMS texts
  • Ability to respond to questions and engage with "Penny" in English
  • Ability to provide informed consent to participate in the study
  • Approval of the patient's oncology care team for the patient to be involved in the study

Exclusion criteria

  • Anyone who does not meet the inclusion criteria
  • Patients with a history of thyroid cancer or skin cancers

Treatment and study plan

Penny

Behavioral

The chatbot will assist patients who have not been see for cancer follow-up care, with scheduling follow-up appointments, labs, scans, specialty appointments, and monitor compliance with the appointments made.

Primary outcomes

  1. To evaluate the utilization of a chatbot (Penny) to increase receipt of evidence-based survivorship care in YA survivors of pediatric and YA cancers

    Time frame: 1 year

    We will identify adult survivors of pediatric and YA cancers who have not been seen for follow-up care >3 years and evaluate patients' engagement with Penny to schedule return appointments and adhere to recommended life-long ongoing follow-up care according to the NCCN guidelines. Patients will be monitored over a 16-week period to see if they scheduled a follow-up care appointment.

  2. Number of patients who agree to use Penny and patient engagement overtime in those patients randomized to the Penny arm

    Time frame: 1 year

    Percentage of initial responses to the conversation initiated by Penny (opt in vs. opt out) providing permission for text messaging

  3. Number of patients who agree to use Penny and patient engagement overtime in those patients randomized to the Penny arm

    Time frame: 1 year

    Total number of times patients engage with Penny to schedule follow up appointments, scans, labs, recommendations for other services made at each clinical visit

  4. Number of patients who agree to use Penny and patient engagement overtime in those patients randomized to the Penny arm

    Time frame: 1 year

    Total number of patients who engage with Penny throughout the study, schedule and are compliant with appointments, scans, labs, and referrals to other services made at each clinical visit

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Staying Healthy With Follow-up Care: A Feasibility Study Utilizing a Chatbot (Penny) Via Mobile Phones to Increase Compliance With Risk Based Survivorship Care (RBSC) Among Adult Survivors of Pediatric and Young Adult Cancers

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
May 18, 2023
Registry last updated
Dec 17, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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