Time burden of cancer care and how it affects daily life
Time toxicity of cancer: the time demands of cancer-related activities and their impact on well-being and quality of life
This project uses a phone app and sensors plus short surveys to measure how much time adults with cancer spend on care and how that time affects their well‑being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11285285 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would use a mobile app (and allow sensor-based tracking) to record time spent on appointments, treatments, travel, and other cancer-related tasks while also answering brief surveys about your mood and quality of life. The researchers will combine objective sensor data with your self-reported time use to create a 'time toxicity' score reflecting the real time cost of care. They will analyze which care activities take the most time and whether higher time burdens relate to worse well‑being. The team aims to identify changes in treatment scheduling or delivery that could save patients time and improve daily life.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21 years and older) receiving cancer treatment or in survivorship who can use an Android smartphone and agree to app/sensor tracking and brief surveys are the ideal participants.
Not a fit: People under 21, those without an Android smartphone or who do not want sensor-based tracking, and those not receiving cancer care are unlikely to be eligible or directly benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help patients and clinicians choose or redesign treatments and clinic practices that save time and protect quality of life.
How similar studies have performed: Mobile health tools and sensors have been used successfully to track symptoms and activity, but creating and validating a specific 'time toxicity' score for cancer care is a new application that has not been widely tested.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Vogel, Rachel Isaksson — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Vogel, Rachel Isaksson
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 below.