Daughters, dUdes, Mothers and othErs Fighting Cancer Together

University of Alabama at Birmingham112 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this protocol is to conduct a 2-arm, single-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial (RCT) in which 56 dyads (defined as consisting of an overweight or obese cancer survivor of an obesity-related cancer and an overweight or obese "buddy" of his or her choosing) would be assigned either to a 6-month, diet- and exercise-based weight loss intervention delivered via an interactive website with tailored text messages, or to a 6-month wait-listed control group. The overall goals of the eHealth intervention are to reduce obesity and select circulating biomarkers (tumor necrosis factor alpha \[TNFα\], insulin, and insulin-like growth factor-1 \[IGF-1\]), as well as improve diet quality, physical activity, health-related quality of life (QoL), physical functioning and performance as compared to the control over the 6-month study period.

The specific aims of this protocol are to: 1) determine whether dyads (comprised of an overweight / obese cancer survivor and an overweight / obese buddy of his or her choosing) lose significantly more weight (kg) at 6-months when assigned to the eHealth intervention compared to a wait-listed control; 2) explore between-arm differences in score changes between baseline and 6-month follow-up for other key outcomes including measures of adiposity (e.g., waist circumference \[WC\] and body mass index \[BMI\]), blood pressure, diet quality, physical activity, health-related Quality of Life (QoL), physical functioning and performance; 3) Assess the impact of the intervention on select biomarkers associated with cancer risk and progression, e.g., tumor TNFα, insulin and IGF-1; and, 4) identify predictor variables associated with program efficacy, e.g., social support, self-efficacy, risk for depression, and dyad partner (spouse, relative, friend/neighbor). Cancer survivors and their selected "buddies" who are interested in participating will be directed to a website that describes this study in detail. If interested, they will be asked to complete an online screener requiring information on race/ethnicity, gender, state of residence and eligibility criteria. Once interested participants are assessed for eligibility, consented and enrolled, they will be asked to complete online questionnaires that assess physical activity, dietary intake, health-related quality of life, risk for depression, self-efficacy, social support and barriers to diet resources. Finally, anthropometric measures, blood pressure, physical performance and circulating biomarkers will be collected in participants' homes by visiting study staff (whom the project manager will deploy after checking for a mutually convenient time for the 2-person dyad.

Study Type

Interventions

eHealth InterventionBEHAVIORAL

Every week, each dyad member will receive a tailored text message that provides a new fun fact or that encourages them to log-on to the website to access findings of new research and how the results might apply to them. They will be directed to specific pages in the Web-based program and asked to select strategies from a list that they will practice during the upcoming week. Graphic displays of their progress will be provided along with SCT-based feedback. They will be directed to the website to record their behavioral goals for the upcoming week. Tips also will be provided for effective communication to enhance couple efficacy. All usage will be tracked to assess adherence.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults age 18+ for whom at least one dyad member has been diagnosed and completed curative treatment for localized renal cancer, or loco-regional ovarian, colorectal, endometrial, or female breast cancer. (Loco-regional prostate cancer survivors are also eligible but could be on active surveillance). * Diagnosed as overweight or obese (BMI \>25 kg/m2. * Low vegetable and fruit intake (\<2.5 cups day). * Low physical activity (\<150 minutes per week). * English-speaking and writing. * Completed at least 5th grade. * Uses the internet and owns a mobile phone. Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed with uncontrolled chronic conditions (i.e., diabetes, blood pressure, CVD, etc) * Diagnosed with a health conditions that precludes adherence to an unsupervised weight loss intervention (e.g., pregnancy, end-stage renal disease, etc). * Instructed by a physician to limit physical activity AND have paralysis, dementia, blindness, unstable angina, untreated stage 3 hypertension, or recent history of heart attack, congestive heart failure or pulmonary conditions that required oxygen or hospitalization within 6 months. * Diagnosed with other cancers (except non-malignant skin cancer), cancer recurrence or metastatic disease. * Resides in a skilled nursing or assisted living facility. * Resides more than 15 minute driving distance from dyad partner.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Body Weight

Change in measured body weight

Time frame: baseline

Body Weight

Change in measured body weight

Time frame: 6 months

Secondary Outcomes

Waist Circumference

measured with a non-stretch tape

Time frame: baseline

Waist Circumference

measured with a non-stretch tape

Time frame: 6 months

Physical Activity (self-reported)

Godin Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire (4-item survey) - individuals provide the number of minutes of vigorous, moderate and light physical activity per week. The minimum is 0 - theoretically, the maximum is 10,080 (the number of minutes in a week), then they are asked if this level of activity is "typical." The higher the number of minutes of totaled moderate + vigorous activity, the better.

Time frame: Baseline

Physical Activity (self-reported)

Time frame: 3 months

Physical Activity (self-reported)

Time frame: 6 months

Physical Activity (objective)

Accelerometry (7-day assessment)

Time frame: baseline

Physical Activity (objective)

Accelerometry (7-day assessment)

Time frame: 6 months

Diet Quality

Two 24-hour dietary recalls

Time frame: baseline

Diet Quality

Two 24-hour dietary recalls

Time frame: 6 months

Physical Performance (endurance)

2-minute step test

Time frame: Baseline

Physical Performance (endurance)

2-minute step test

Time frame: 6 months

Physical Performance (lower body strength)

30-second chair stand

Time frame: Baseline

Physical Performance (lower body strength)

30-second chair stand

Time frame: 6 months

Physical Performance (agility)

8' foot up and go

Time frame: Baseline

Physical Performance (agility)

8' foot up and go

Time frame: 6 months

Physical Performance (gait speed)

8' walk

Time frame: baseline

Physical Performance (gait speed)

8' walk

Time frame: 6 months

Physical Performance (Balance)

Side-by-side, semi-tandem and tandem stances

Time frame: baseline

Physical Performance (Balance)

Side-by-side, semi-tandem and tandem stances

Time frame: 6 months

Self-efficacy for calorically restricted diet

Clark et al. survey (20 items). Respondents either affirm or deny that they can resist high fat, high calorie foods under a variety of situations. Individuals who have maximum willpower achieve the top score of 20, whereas those with lesser willpower score lower (the minimum score is zero)

Time frame: baseline

Self-efficacy for calorically restricted diet

Time frame: 3 months

Self-efficacy for calorically restricted diet

Time frame: 6 months

Self-efficacy for increased physical activity

Sallis et al. survey (6 items in total). Respondents rate themselves on each item from 0 to 100% on their level of confidence. The higher the total score (maximum of 100%) the better (Minimum 0%).

Time frame: baseline

Self-efficacy for increased physical activity

Sallis et al. survey (6 items in total). Respondents rate themselves on each item from 0 to 100% on their level of confidence. The higher the total score (maximum of 100%) the better (Minimum 0%).

Time frame: 3 months

Self-efficacy for increased physical activity

Sallis et al. survey (6 items in total). Respondents rate themselves on each item from 0 to 100% on their level of confidence. The higher the total score (maximum of 100%) the better (Minimum 0%).

Time frame: 6 months

Social support for calorically restricted diet

Sallis et al. instrument (4 items). Respondents rate the level of support they obtain to follow a healthy, low calorie diet on a 5-point scale ranging from ("never"= 0 to "everyday" = 4. Individuals who have maximum support achieve the top score of 16, whereas those with lesser support score lower (the minimum score is zero)

Time frame: baseline

Social support for increased physical activity

Sallis et al. instrument (4 items in total) Respondents rate the level of support they obtain to increase their level of physical activity on a 5-point scale ranging from ("never"= 0 to "everyday" = 4. Individuals who have maximum support achieve the top score of 16, whereas those with lesser support score lower (the minimum score is zero)

Time frame: baseline

Social support for calorically restricted diet

Time frame: 3 months

Social support for increased physical activity

Time frame: 3 months

Social support for calorically restricted diet

Time frame: 6 months

Social support for increased physical activity

Time frame: 6 months

Barriers for increased physical activity

(15 items in total) Respondents either affirm or deny common barriers to exercise. Individuals who report more barriers achieve the top score of 21, whereas those with fewer barriers score lower (the minimum score is zero) and that is considered better.

Time frame: baseline

Barriers for increased physical activity

Time frame: 3 months

Barriers for increased physical activity

Time frame: 6 months

Circulating insulin