Understanding how cancer care affects patients' time and well-being

Time toxicity of cancer: the time demands of cancer-related activities and their impact on well-being and quality of life

NIH-funded research University of Minnesota · NIH-11015908

This study is looking at how much time cancer patients spend on their treatment and care, using a mobile app to track their experiences, so we can find ways to make their lives easier and help them enjoy their daily activities and relationships more.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Minnesota NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Minneapolis, United States)
Project IDNIH-11015908 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the time demands placed on cancer patients due to their treatment and care activities. It aims to quantify the 'time toxicity' associated with cancer care, which often leads to patients neglecting their daily life and relationships. By using a mobile health application, the study will collect both objective data and subjective reports from patients to measure how much time they spend on healthcare-related tasks. The goal is to create a scoring system that can help identify ways to reduce these time burdens and improve patients' quality of life.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults undergoing treatment for cancer who are 21 years or older.

Not a fit: Patients who are not currently receiving cancer treatment or those who are not affected by the time demands of cancer care may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved cancer care strategies that better balance treatment demands with patients' overall well-being.

How similar studies have performed: While the concept of time toxicity in cancer care is relatively novel, similar approaches in measuring patient burden have shown promise in other healthcare contexts.

Where this research is happening

Minneapolis, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.