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mHealth to Improve Medication Adherence Among Latina Breast Cancer Patients Experiencing Non-Medical Drivers of Health

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
18 Years and older
Sex
Female only
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

Not stated in the study description — ask the study team about visits and procedures.

Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study tests whether the HT Helper phone app plus a patient guide helps Latina breast cancer patients take hormone therapy as prescribed. It compares the app plus a guide, a guide alone, and usual care. It is for patients who face barriers, such as money, insurance, or language problems, that affect taking their medicine.

Background: Hormonal therapy (HT) is highly effective for nearly all breast cancer patients with hormone receptor-positive tumors, which are about 80% of all breast cancer diagnoses. Long-term use of HT reduces cancer recurrence rates and cuts the risk of mortality nearly in half during the second decade after diagnosis. Despite proven benefits, 33% of women who are prescribed HT do not take it as prescribed (\<80% take their daily dosage). Latina patients are disproportionately affected by non-medical drivers of health (NMDoH) that keep them from adhering to HT and are at higher risk of breast cancer recurrence and mortality. Objective: The goal of this 4-year randomized controlled study is to assess the effectiveness of the bilingual, culturally tailored, interactive HT Helper App, in combination with patient navigation (PN), on improving adherence to HT among Latina breast cancer patients experiencing any NMDoH barriers, such as income, health insurance, education, health literacy, and language, that impact their medication adherence. This theory-based intervention will increase patient education, enhance self-efficacy, facilitate communication with the medical team and coordination of resources to address NMDoH barriers, and help patients develop self-care skills for optimal adherence to HT, ensuring patients the most equitable treatment outcomes possible, including improvement in quality of life, survival, and life expectancy. Specific Aims/Hypothesis: 1) Conduct a 3-group randomized study to assess the effectiveness of the HT Helper App + PN vs. PN alone vs. usual care, on HT adherence; and 2) Assess the effect of each study condition on patient self-efficacy to identify side effects, use self-care to manage side effects, and communicate with the medical team. We hypothesize that the HT Helper App + PN and the PN alone groups will have greater rates of HT adherence and higher patient self-efficacy than the usual care group; with the HT Helper App + PN achieving better results than both PN alone and the usual care groups. Study Design. The proposed study involves a parallel 3-group randomized controlled trial with 5-time assessments (baseline, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months) and will enroll 159 breast cancer patients who are prescribed HT and are attending the breast clinic at the Mays Cancer Center at UT Health San Antonio. Intervention components are based on Social Cognitive Theory and elements of Motivational Interviewing. Cancer Relevance. This innovative multi-level intervention will improve adherence to HT by addressing NMDoH and promote equitable breast cancer outcomes, including reduced recurrence and improved quality of life, overall survival, and life expectancy among underserved Latina patients. The anticipated outcome is a scalable, evidence-based, and easily disseminated intervention with potentially broad use to patients using oral anticancer medications.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Are Latina, age 18 or older, and speak English or Spanish.
  • Have hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, which means hormones help the cancer grow, and have been prescribed hormone therapy.
  • Started hormone therapy 1 to 24 months ago.
  • Have at least one non-medical barrier, such as money or language problems, found by the study's screening questions.
  • Can read.
  • Own a smartphone and can send and receive texts and use the Internet.
  • Can understand the study and give informed consent, meaning you agree to take part.

Who can't join

  • Do not meet all the requirements listed above.
  • Are not taking hormone therapy or started it more than 24 months ago.
  • Have no non-medical barriers found by the study's screening questions.
  • Cannot read or do not have the smartphone and Internet access needed for the study.
  • Cannot answer texts and questions or download the study app.
  • Cannot understand the consent information because of a mental, emotional, or physical condition.
  • Cannot see or hear the app, study materials, or videos because of blindness or deafness.
  • Are currently in a study of support for mental or social well-being, or in one-on-one or group talk therapy.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: English- or Spanish-speaking Latina patients aged 18 and older who: a) are diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and prescribed HT; b) within 1 to 24 months of starting HT; c) are experiencing any NMDoH by the Avanzando Center NMDoH Screener; d) are able to read; e) own a smartphone and are able to send and receive text messages and access the Internet; and f) are able to provide informed consent to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: Not meeting the criteria above, or patients who: a) are not Latina and are younger than 18 years; b) are not receiving HT treatment; c) with more than 24 months of starting treatment; d) do not experience any NMDoH by the Avanzando Center NMDoH Screener; e) are unable to read; f) do not own a smartphone and are unable to send and receive text messages and access the Internet; g) are unable to respond to text messages and questions or unable to download the study app; h) are unable to provide informed consent due to a mental, emotional, or physical handicap that keeps them from understanding the consent information; i) are unable to see the app and study materials and videos (i.e., are blind, deaf); and j) currently participating in a psychosocial intervention trial or individual/group psychotherapy.

Study sites (1)

TX