CancerChatExNCT07004829
Exercise Counseling Via Mobile Chat for Older Cancer Survivors
A study testing Exercise counselling via instant messaging in people with Cancer and Survivorship, run by The University of Hong Kong.
Trial summary
The objective of the study is to determine the efficacy of a 12-week mobile chat-based exercise counselling intervention (ChatEx) for increasing exercise behaviour (operationalized as self-reported aerobic MVPA) at 3-month (primary analysis, post-intervention) and 6-month (3-month post-intervention) among older cancer… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 60 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Cancer, Survivorship, Elderly
- What is being tested?
- Exercise counselling via instant messaging
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 196 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Jun 2025to 30 Nov 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 60 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- aged ≥60
- diagnosed with stage I-III non-metastatic cancer (rationale: exercise levels and interests in receiving exercise interventions are similar across cancer types in post-treatment survivors
- completed primary treatment with curative intent (rationale: post-cancer treatment period imposes less exercise barriers related to treatment schedule and side-effects, and is most desired by cancer patients to start/resume exercising
- can communicate in Cantonese or Mandarin
- have an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1
- own a smartphone and proficient in using IM
Who cannot join
- contraindications to unsupervised exercise (e.g., dementia, recent myocardial infarction or stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, walker or wheelchair use)
- already performing ≥150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise and two sessions of resistance exercise per week (already meeting recommended exercise guidelines).
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Efficacy of a Mobile Chat-based Exercise Counselling Intervention (ChatEx) for Increasing and Maintaining Exercise Behaviour in Older Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial
The objective of the study is to determine the efficacy of a 12-week mobile chat-based exercise counselling intervention (ChatEx) for increasing exercise behaviour (operationalized as self-reported aerobic MVPA) at 3-month (primary analysis, post-intervention) and 6-month (3-month post-intervention) among older cancer survivors. This will be a randomized controlled, assessor-blind trial conforming to the CONSORT guidelines. A total of 196 cancer survivors aged over 60 who have completed curative treatment and screened as having an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1 will be recruited and randomized into intervention and control groups. It is expected that upon intervention completion, the intervention group will exhibit increased and sustained exercise behaviors compared to the control group. Study instruments will be Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, 6-minute walk test, grip strength, Edmonton Frail Scale, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire, M-PAC constructs, and a background questionnaire. The intervention comprises of 12 weeks of messages aimed at promoting physical activity structured with the multi-process action control framework complemented with two face-to-face exercise instructional sessions at week 1 and week 6. The control group participants will receive a one-page written information sheet on the recommended exercise guidelines and exercise safety precautions in cancer survivors. Also, they will receive 3-4 messages via IM monthly on non-exercise-related self-management tips of cancer survivorship. They can receive the ChatEx intervention upon completion of the study. Intention-to-treat analysis will be performed.
Read the detailed description
Older adults account for more than half of cancer diagnoses. With advances in detection and treatment, older adults constitute the fastest-growing segment in the cancer population. A history of cancer has been found to increase the odds of and accelerate functional decline, suggesting that cancer and/or its treatment alters aging trajectories. Therapeutic interventions are therefore needed to mitigate the consequences of cancer and aging. Robust evidence indicates that exercise attenuates the major hallmarks of aging. Meanwhile, exercise is recommended by multiple best practice guidelines to alleviate the adverse sequelae of cancer. Well-documented benefits include improvements in physical functioning and quality of life (QoL), reduction of cancer-related symptoms (e.g., fatigue, insomnia, depression), and decreasing risk of recurrence, secondary cancers, and mortality.
Exercise counseling, which involves advice and discussions to promote exercise, is a less intensive and more scalable approach than supervised exercise sessions. Instant messaging (IM) offers a promising platform for delivering exercise counseling due to its accessibility, customizability, and widespread use. This study utilizes the Multi-Process Action Control (M-PAC) framework, which emphasizes reflective, regulatory, and reflexive processes to overcome barriers to exercise adherence. The study hypothesizes that ChatEx, an IM-based exercise counseling intervention grounded in the M-PAC framework, will be effective in increasing and maintaining exercise behavior among older cancer survivors.
This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a 12-week mobile chat-based exercise counseling intervention (ChatEx) for increasing exercise behavior in older cancer survivors. The primary objective is to determine if ChatEx can increase exercise behavior at both 3-month (post-intervention) and 6-month (3-month post-intervention) time points. Secondary aims include examining the intervention's impact on other exercise parameters, exercise capacity, grip strength, frailty, and quality of life, as well as exploring the mediating roles of Multi-Process Action Control (M-PAC) constructs and participant engagement in changing exercise behavior.
- Conditions
- Cancer, Survivorship, Elderly, Exercise
- Being tested
- Exercise counselling via instant messaging
- Keywords
- Cancer survivors, Exercise counselling, Instant messaging
- Medical subject headings
- Neoplasms, Motor Activity
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Exercise counselling via instant messagingBehavioural
The 12 weeks of messages will be sent by a trained counsellor. At baseline, participants will select their desired IM application (WhatsApp/WeChat), timing of messages (morning/noon/afternoon), message format (audio/text), and language style (spoken/written). The message library, established in the HMRF-funded study, consists of messages in text and pre-recorded voice message formats, images, videos, and stickers. Each week starts with messages on factual information and ends with a question to initiate conversations to clear any queries; counsellor will provide real-time replies. The 12-week messages are structured based on the M-PAC framework.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| ChatEx | Experimental | The ChatEx intervention aims to increase exercise behavior in older cancer survivors through 12 weeks of mobile messages delivered by a trained counselor, complemented by two face-to-face sessions at weeks 1 and 6 to enhance effectiveness and minimize costs. Participants will personalize their message delivery preferences (application, timing, format, language style) from a pre-existing library of text, audio, images, videos, and stickers. Messages, structured using the M-PAC framework, will provide factual information and initiate conversations, with the counselor offering real-time replies to encourage participants to meet exercise guidelines (≥150 minutes of moderate aerobic and two resistance exercise sessions per week). Receives: Behavioral: Exercise counselling via instant messaging |
| Control | No intervention | The control group participants will receive a one-page written information sheet on the recommended exercise guidelines and exercise safety precautions in cancer survivors. Also, they will receive 3-4 messages via IM monthly on non-exercise-related self-management tips of cancer survivorship. They can receive the ChatEx intervention upon completion of the study. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Exercise behaviour
Exercise behaviour (primary outcome) is operationalized as the self-reported time spent in aerobic MVPA per week. It will be assessed using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) [35], a 12-item scale on three components of physical activity of older adults, including leisure-time activity (light/moderate/vigorous aerobic exercise and resistance exercise), household activity, and work-related activity. The number of hours spent on each activity/day over a 7-day period is recorded. Frequency is multiplied by duration to obtain the total time spent in aerobic MVPA. The total time spent in resistance exercise will be extracted in the same manner. An overall PASE score will be calculated to estimate total exercise time (all types of activities) by summing all components according to the item weights specified. Besides, objectively-measured time spent in MVPA will be measured by instructing participants to wear an activity sensor for 2 consecutive days at each time point.
Measured: (a) pre-intervention at study entry (T0, baseline); (b) 3-month (T1; post-intervention); (c) 6-month (T2; 3 months post-intervention)
Secondary outcomes (5)
Exercise capacity
Exercise capacity will be measured by the 6-minute walk test, which is well-correlated with peak VO2 and highly reproducible. Participants will be instructed to walk at their fastest pace and cover the longest possible distance in 6 minutes.
Measured: (a) pre-intervention at study entry (T0, baseline); (b) 3-month (T1; post-intervention); (c) 6-month (T2; 3 months post-intervention)
Grip strength
Grip strength will be assessed using a dynamometer for six attempts in an alternating bilateral sequence (three with each arm, with a rest period of 30s between each trial). An average of the attempts will be recorded.
Measured: (a) pre-intervention at study entry (T0, baseline); (b) 3-month (T1; post-intervention); (c) 6-month (T2; 3 months post-intervention)
Health-related quality of life
Health-related quality of life will be measured using the 30-item European Organization for research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire, which has been validated in Chinese cancer patients with satisfactory reliability
Measured: (a) pre-intervention at study entry (T0, baseline); (b) 3-month (T1; post-intervention); (c) 6-month (T2; 3 months post-intervention)
Frailty
Frailty will be measured using the 11-item Edmonton Frail Scale. This covers nine domains of frailty (e.g., cognition, mood, functional performance). Higher total scores represent more severe frailty states.
Measured: (a) pre-intervention at study entry (T0, baseline); (b) 3-month (T1; post-intervention); (c) 6-month (T2; 3 months post-intervention)
M-PAC constructs
M-PAC constructs (e.g., affective attitude, instrumental attitude, perceived capability, perceived opportunity, habit, identity) will be measured using 21 items designed by our co-A (Rhodes, M-PAC founder).
Measured: (a) pre-intervention at study entry (T0, baseline); (b) 3-month (T1; post-intervention); (c) 6-month (T2; 3 months post-intervention)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Jun 2025
- Study start1 Jun 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Jun 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Nov 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by The University of Hong KongThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 196 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong Kong
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Cheung Shuk-Ting, The University of Hong Kong
- Investigators
- Denise Shuk Ting Cheung, Ph.D., Principal investigator, The University of Hong Kong
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07004829
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 22233291
- Acronym
- ChatEx
- Status last verified
- May 2025
- First submitted
- 26 May 2025
- Last updated
- 4 Jun 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Data will be available on reasonable request as decided by the principal investigator.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 4 Jun 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Efficacy of a Mobile Chat-based Exercise Counselling Intervention (ChatEx) for Increasing and Maintaining Exercise Behaviour in Older Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07004829
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- ChatEx / 22233291
- Conditions
- Cancer, Survivorship, Elderly, Exercise
- Keywords
- Cancer survivors, Exercise counselling, Instant messaging
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 196 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- The University of Hong KongUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jun 2025 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jun 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 30 Nov 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 4 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The objective of the study is to determine the efficacy of a 12-week mobile chat-based exercise counselling intervention (ChatEx) for increasing exercise behaviour (operationalized as self-reported aerobic MVPA) at 3-month (primary analysis, post-intervention) and 6-month (3-month post-intervention) among older cancer survivors. This will be a randomized controlled, assessor-blind trial conforming to the CONSORT guidelines. A total of 196 cancer survivors aged over 60 who have completed curative treatment and screened as having an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1 will be recruited and randomized into intervention and control groups. It is expected that upon intervention completion, the intervention group will exhibit increased and sustained exercise behaviors compared to the control group. Study instruments will be Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly, 6-minute walk test, grip strength, Edmonton Frail Scale, European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core Questionnaire, M-PAC constructs, and a background questionnaire. The intervention comprises of 12 weeks of messages aimed at promoting physical activity structured with the multi-process action control framework complemented with two face-to-face exercise instructional sessions at week 1 and week 6. The control group participants will receive a one-page written information sheet on the recommended exercise guidelines and exercise safety precautions in cancer survivors. Also, they will receive 3-4 messages via IM monthly on non-exercise-related self-management tips of cancer survivorship. They can receive the ChatEx intervention upon completion of the study. Intention-to-treat analysis will be performed.
Detailed description
Older adults account for more than half of cancer diagnoses. With advances in detection and treatment, older adults constitute the fastest-growing segment in the cancer population. A history of cancer has been found to increase the odds of and accelerate functional decline, suggesting that cancer and/or its treatment alters aging trajectories. Therapeutic interventions are therefore needed to mitigate the consequences of cancer and aging. Robust evidence indicates that exercise attenuates the major hallmarks of aging. Meanwhile, exercise is recommended by multiple best practice guidelines to alleviate the adverse sequelae of cancer. Well-documented benefits include improvements in physical functioning and quality of life (QoL), reduction of cancer-related symptoms (e.g., fatigue, insomnia, depression), and decreasing risk of recurrence, secondary cancers, and mortality.
Exercise counseling, which involves advice and discussions to promote exercise, is a less intensive and more scalable approach than supervised exercise sessions. Instant messaging (IM) offers a promising platform for delivering exercise counseling due to its accessibility, customizability, and widespread use. This study utilizes the Multi-Process Action Control (M-PAC) framework, which emphasizes reflective, regulatory, and reflexive processes to overcome barriers to exercise adherence. The study hypothesizes that ChatEx, an IM-based exercise counseling intervention grounded in the M-PAC framework, will be effective in increasing and maintaining exercise behavior among older cancer survivors.
This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a 12-week mobile chat-based exercise counseling intervention (ChatEx) for increasing exercise behavior in older cancer survivors. The primary objective is to determine if ChatEx can increase exercise behavior at both 3-month (post-intervention) and 6-month (3-month post-intervention) time points. Secondary aims include examining the intervention's impact on other exercise parameters, exercise capacity, grip strength, frailty, and quality of life, as well as exploring the mediating roles of Multi-Process Action Control (M-PAC) constructs and participant engagement in changing exercise behavior.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| ChatEx | Experimental | Behavioral: Exercise counselling via instant messagingThe ChatEx intervention aims to increase exercise behavior in older cancer survivors through 12 weeks of mobile messages delivered by a trained counselor, complemented by two face-to-face sessions at weeks 1 and 6 to enhance effectiveness and minimize costs. Participants will personalize their message delivery preferences (application, timing, format, language style) from a pre-existing library of text, audio, images, videos, and stickers. Messages, structured using the M-PAC framework, will provide factual information and initiate conversations, with the counselor offering real-time replies to encourage participants to meet exercise guidelines (≥150 minutes of moderate aerobic and two resistance exercise sessions per week). |
| Control | No intervention | –The control group participants will receive a one-page written information sheet on the recommended exercise guidelines and exercise safety precautions in cancer survivors. Also, they will receive 3-4 messages via IM monthly on non-exercise-related self-management tips of cancer survivorship. They can receive the ChatEx intervention upon completion of the study. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 60 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- aged ≥60
- diagnosed with stage I-III non-metastatic cancer (rationale: exercise levels and interests in receiving exercise interventions are similar across cancer types in post-treatment survivors
- completed primary treatment with curative intent (rationale: post-cancer treatment period imposes less exercise barriers related to treatment schedule and side-effects, and is most desired by cancer patients to start/resume exercising
- can communicate in Cantonese or Mandarin
- have an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1
Key exclusion criteria (2 listed)
- contraindications to unsupervised exercise (e.g., dementia, recent myocardial infarction or stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, walker or wheelchair use)
- already performing ≥150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic exercise and two sessions of resistance exercise per week (already meeting recommended exercise guidelines).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise counselling via instant messagingThe 12 weeks of messages will be sent by a trained counsellor. At baseline, participants will select their desired IM application (WhatsApp/WeChat), timing of messages (morning/noon/afternoon), message format (audio/text), and language style (spoken/written). The message library, established in the HMRF-funded study, consists of messages in text and pre-recorded voice message formats, images, videos, and stickers. Each week starts with messages on factual information and ends with a question to initiate conversations to clear any queries; counsellor will provide real-time replies. The 12-week messages are structured based on the M-PAC framework. | Behavioural | ChatEx |
Primary outcome
Exercise behaviour
Time frame: (a) pre-intervention at study entry (T0, baseline); (b) 3-month (T1; post-intervention); (c) 6-month (T2; 3 months post-intervention)
Exercise behaviour (primary outcome) is operationalized as the self-reported time spent in aerobic MVPA per week. It will be assessed using the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) [35], a 12-item scale on three components of physical activity of older adults, including leisure-time activity (light/moderate/vigorous aerobic exercise and resistance exercise), household activity, and work-related activity. The number of hours spent on each activity/day over a 7-day period is recorded. Frequency is multiplied by duration to obtain the total time spent in aerobic MVPA. The total time spent in resistance exercise will be extracted in the same manner. An overall PASE score will be calculated to estimate total exercise time (all types of activities) by summing all components according to the item weights specified. Besides, objectively-measured time spent in MVPA will be measured by instructing participants to wear an activity sensor for 2 consecutive days at each time point.
5 secondary outcomes
Exercise capacity
Time frame: (a) pre-intervention at study entry (T0, baseline); (b) 3-month (T1; post-intervention); (c) 6-month (T2; 3 months post-intervention)
Grip strength
Time frame: (a) pre-intervention at study entry (T0, baseline); (b) 3-month (T1; post-intervention); (c) 6-month (T2; 3 months post-intervention)
Health-related quality of life
Time frame: (a) pre-intervention at study entry (T0, baseline); (b) 3-month (T1; post-intervention); (c) 6-month (T2; 3 months post-intervention)
Frailty
Time frame: (a) pre-intervention at study entry (T0, baseline); (b) 3-month (T1; post-intervention); (c) 6-month (T2; 3 months post-intervention)
M-PAC constructs
Time frame: (a) pre-intervention at study entry (T0, baseline); (b) 3-month (T1; post-intervention); (c) 6-month (T2; 3 months post-intervention)
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 4 Jun 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Data will be available on reasonable request as decided by the principal investigator.
Related trials for Cancer
Not yet recruitingPhase 1
Hepatic Artery Infusion of Carfilzomib in Participants With Liver Metastatic Disease Previously Treated With Hepatic Artery Infusion Pump Therapy
Colorectal Neoplasms, Neoplasms
RecruitingPhase 2
Tafasitamab With Acalabrutinib and Venetoclax for the Treatment of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma
Active, not recruitingPhase 1/2
Selumetinib in Treating Young Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Low Grade Glioma
Low Grade Glioma, Recurrent Childhood Pilocytic Astrocytoma
Enrolling by invitationPhase 2
A Single-Arm Study of Nimotuzumab Combined With NALIRIFOX as First-Line Treatment for Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic Cancer Metastatic
Recruiting
Methylation Profiling in Self-Samples for Identification of (Epi)Genetic Biomarkers for Gynecological Cancers
Gynaecological Cancers, Ovarian Cancer
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Denise Shuk Ting Cheung, Ph.D. principal investigator
The University of Hong Kong
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Exercise counselling via instant messaging in people with Cancer and Survivorship, run by The University of Hong Kong.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 2 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 4 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Denise Shuk Ting Cheung, Ph.D. (39176676, denisest@hku.hk), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Exercise behaviour (time frame: (a) pre-intervention at study entry (T0, baseline); (b) 3-month (T1; post-intervention); (c) 6-month (T2; 3 months post-intervention)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 4 Jun 2025.