Heuristic tool helps adolescents and young adults with cancer manage symptoms
Official title: A Randomized Controlled Trial using a Heuristic Tool To Improve Symptom Self-Management in Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer
Funded at Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11376165 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A randomized trial tests a computer-based symptom tool to help teens and young adults with cancer manage their symptoms with their care team.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Virginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Richmond, United States) |
| Project start | June 9, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $555,281 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA286799-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11376165 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents and young adults currently undergoing cancer treatment who can use computer-based tools and communicate with their clinical team.
✕Less likely to help
Patients not experiencing significant symptom burden or with conditions not suited to the tool may have limited benefit.
What this research studies
This study tests a computer-assisted symptom self-management tool (C-SCAT) designed for adolescents and young adults receiving cancer treatment. Participants use heuristics to identify high-priority symptoms and see how their experiences relate to each other, aiding meaningful conversations with clinicians. The goal is to improve self-management behaviors and shared decision-making during active treatment. The research will recruit AYAs diagnosed with cancer across the Virginia Commonwealth University setting, following standard clinical care while using the intervention. If successful, the approach could become a patient-centered way to tailor symptom care for this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience better symptom control and improved quality of life during cancer treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Prior similar symptom self-management approaches in other populations have shown promise, but this heuristic tool for AYAs is a novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Elswick, Ronald K. — Virginia Commonwealth University
- Study coordinator: Elswick, Ronald K.
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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.