Clinical trial NCT06894849: Text -Based Depression Screening Among Cancer Survivors
Official title: Evaluation of a Text Message-Based Approach to Depression Screening Among Cancer Survivors
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Phase: NA
Conditions: Cancer
Depression Secondary to Other Disease
Cancer Survivor
Keywords: Cancer Survivorship
Depression Screening
Text Message Screening
Mobile Health
Lead sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-03-25
Enrollment: 60
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Brief summary: Depression is common among cancer survivors, but current screening methods are not always effective. To help improve depression screening for cancer survivors, this study will conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 60 participants. The goal is to evaluate whether a text message-based approach to depression screening is feasible, acceptable, and potentially more effective than the current standard of care.

Detailed description: This pilot randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a text message-based depression screening approach for cancer survivors. A total of 60 adult cancer survivors will be enrolled and randomly assigned to either the text message intervention or the usual care depression screening. The intervention involves sending text messages one week before scheduled oncology appointments, inviting participants to complete a depression screening using the PHQ-2, followed by the PHQ-9 for those who screen positive.

The study will assess the feasibility of implementing text message-based screenings, participant acceptability, and compare the efficacy of this method to traditional in-person depression screenings during clinical visits. The primary outcome is feasibility, measured by the proportion of participants completing the screening via text, while secondary outcomes will include acceptability (assessed through participant surveys) and preliminary efficacy (measured by screening completion rates and depression detection).

Eligible participants will be English-speaking cancer survivors aged 18 or older with an upcoming oncology appointment at the Hollings Cancer Center or associated clinics. The study aims to improve current depression screening methods and address challenges such as logistical and system-level barriers in screening cancer survivors for depression.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* age \> 18 years
* diagnosis of cancer
* upcoming appointment in an HCC or HCN oncology clinic within 14 days
* English proficiency
* ownership of a cellphone with SMS text capability.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Study Feasibility
timeFrame: 2 weeks after randomization
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Acceptability
timeFrame: 2 weeks
measure: Depression screening
timeFrame: 2 weeks
measure: PHQ-2 score
timeFrame: 2 weeks
measure: PHQ-9 score
timeFrame: 2 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
Study officials:
affiliation: Medical University of South Carolina
name: Evan Graboyes, MD, MPH, FACS
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References: