GutCheck: Optimization of a Personalized Mobile Health App for Survivors of Gastrointestinal Cancer

Sponsor
Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota
Study ID
NCT07661017
Status
Not Yet Recruiting

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Conditions

  • GI Cancer
  • Gastrointestinal
  • Gastrointestinal Cancer
  • Gastrointestinal Symptoms
  • Gut Health
  • Mobile Health
  • Survivorship

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
18 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • Stool Sample — DIAGNOSTIC_TEST
    Participants who were selected to collect their stool samples will be mailed their second kit before the last week (week 8) of intervention. Participants will collect their stool sample during week 8 and mail them to be processed prior to the Exit Interview Visit.
  • App Activity — OTHER
    Participants will be asked to log their food and beverages, stress, and gastrointestinal symptoms daily. They will also track physical activity.

Study Details

There are two components to the study: a patient and a clinician study. The clinician study will include one-hour semi-structured interviews with oncology specialists to identify facilitators and barriers to integrating digital diet interventions into the clinical workflow, and to understand their needs and preferences for digital diet interventions. The patient study aims to investigate initial feasibility, efficacy and acceptability of the GutCheck app and intervention. It will last 9 weeks and involves 2 study visits and 2 active phases with a transition week and optional transition visit between phases. During active phases, participants will be asked to use the GutCheck app every day. Prior to the first active phase, participants will go through informed consent and app training. The first active phase will last two weeks and will focus on tracking participants' diet, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, and stress. The data collected during the first active phase will be used to identify any potential trigger foods that may contribute to GI symptoms, but only if the participant reports experiencing GI symptoms. Between active phases, participants will have one Transition Week, where results from the first phase are given to the participants with the option to attend a Transition Week Visit. The second active phase will last four weeks and will involve the message intervention. A single-blind, micro-randomized trial design will be used to repeatedly randomize participants to different intervention combinations, determining both the timing and frequency of intervention message delivery throughout the day. Lastly, there will be an exit visit and interview within a week from the intervention to collect post-intervention measures and ask about the participant's experience with the GutCheck app.

Key Dates

First listed
Jun 22, 2026
Start date
Dec 31, 2026
Status verified
Jun 2026
Primary completion
Jun 30, 2029
Completion
Jun 30, 2030

Study Design

Enrollment
200 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
CROSSOVER
Primary purpose
HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Arms

  • Active Comparator: Personalization Level - No
    The "no personalization" group will receive generic push messages based on United States Department of Agriculture and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations. Within their personalization level, participants will be automatically randomized daily to varying message frequency (one vs. three times per day) and timing (preferred times vs. established times). After each message, all participants will be asked to evaluate whether the message was useful using a 3-point Likert-type visual scale in the app.
  • Active Comparator: Personalization Level - Low
    The "low personalization" group will receive similar messages, with occasional use of their names and references to GI cancer. Within their personalization level, participants will be automatically randomized daily to varying message frequency (one vs. three times per day) and timing (preferred times vs. established times). After each message, all participants will be asked to evaluate whether the message was useful using a 3-point Likert-type visual scale in the app.
  • Active Comparator: Personalization Level - High
    The "high personalization" group messages will be further tailored to age and gender to provide social comparisons. This group will receive food-related GI messages based on their responses from the personalization quiz during Week 1. Messages will emphasize affordable, commonly available foods to increase likelihood of accessibility. Within their personalization level, participants will be automatically randomized daily to varying message frequency (one vs. three times per day) and timing (preferred times vs. established times). After each message, all participants will be asked to evaluate whether the message was useful using a 3-point Likert-type visual scale in the app.

Primary Outcome Measure

Adherence of Diet Tracking [ Time Frame: 1 year ]

Central Contacts

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