A video game to help women with metastatic breast or advanced gynecologic cancer speak up for their care
Official title: Efficacy of a self-advocacy serious game intervention for women with advanced cancer
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11171425 · Data updated 2026-11-12
An interactive, multi-session video game teaches adult women with metastatic breast or advanced gynecologic cancer practical self-advocacy skills to manage symptoms and get care that matches their priorities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $593,741 |
| NIH project number | 5R37CA262025-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11171425 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adult women (21+) living with metastatic breast cancer or advanced gynecologic cancer who can use a digital app or participate in remote/clinic sessions are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
This intervention is unlikely to help men, people with early-stage disease, or patients who cannot or will not use a smartphone/tablet or computer.
What this research studies
You would use a multi-session, interactive serious game that simulates real conversations and decisions patients face in cancer care. The app provides tailored goal-setting and practice scenarios to build self-advocacy skills you can use with clinicians and caregivers. The approach uses behavior-change techniques and immersive, accessible technology so skills learned in the game transfer to real life. The study compares outcomes for women who use the game to determine if it helps with symptom management and quality of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could help women better manage symptoms, improve quality of life, and receive more patient-centered care.
How similar studies have gone: Serious-game interventions have improved health behaviors and skill learning in other conditions, though using games specifically to teach self-advocacy in advanced cancer is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thomas, Teresa Hagan — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Thomas, Teresa Hagan
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.