Engagement and acceptability of the Untire mHealth app
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of a mobile health intervention (Untire app) for adult cancer patients and survivors with cancer related fatigue: A pilot clinical study
IRAS ID
318755
Contact name
Emil Vuillermoz
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Bath
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most severe and commonly reported side effects of cancer treatment. There is a growing body of evidence that mHealth interventions (digitally delivered using a smart phone app) are effective at reducing CRF. The Untire app is a mHealth app is a registered medical device (ICD10 code R53.83 Fatigue) introduced in 2018 to treat CRF. One limitation common to most digitally delivered interventions is high levels of study drop out and decreased app use over time. This study aims to investigate whether an updated version of the Untire app will improve engagement and acceptability when compared to the current version in adults with CRF. The updated version includes additional features and a higher degree of personalisation; an important factor in maintaining user engagement.
Adult cancer survivors with CRF will be randomised to two conditions; either receiving the Untire: current version or Untire: new version. They will be invited to use a version of the app for a 12-week intervention period. Participants will use their own phones to download and use the app. Participants will complete outcome measures at baseline and then at 2, 4, 6 and 12-week time points via an online survey platform.
Engagement will be measured through retention and adherence rates over 12-week and in app use data; duration of app use and time spent on each activity within the app. Acceptability will be measured using the Acceptability E-scale and Digital Working Alliance Inventory collected at each time point. Other measures will include The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue (FACT-F) to provide preliminary data on effectiveness.
We also aim to contact participants who stop using the app or drop out of the study. This will be via email or telephone so they can provide qualitative feedback on the app.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - Bradford Leeds Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/YH/0101
Date of REC Opinion
28 Apr 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion