RUCAS: A personalized, place-based digital health intervention to promote physical activity among rural cancer survivors

About This Grant

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Rural cancer survivors face a 10% higher risk of cancer-related mortality than those living in urban areas. Despite evidence that increased physical activity after a cancer diagnosis is associated with a 20-40% decrease in cancer-related mortality, rural cancer survivors are 31% more likely to report being physically inactive. This is an indication that lack of physical activity is a key factor driving higher mortality rates in rural communities. Previous work has identified that few interventions have been implemented addressing the specific needs and challenges for delivering physical activity programming in rural communities. The development of a contextually supported and methodologically rigorous intervention designed to address low physical activity among rural cancer survivors is needed. This proposed study aims to develop and evaluate RUCAS (Rural Cancer Survivorship), a personalized, place-based digital health intervention to promote adherence to physical activity guidelines among cancer survivors living in rural areas. The objective of the K99 phase is to develop the RUCAS intervention using an explanatory sequential mixed methods evaluation of rural cancer survivors. Aim 1 (K99) is to characterize and compare the demographic and geographic factors of rural cancer survivors who are interested in using a digital health intervention and to identify desired intervention components using a cross-sectional survey. Aim 2 (K99) is to assess the intervention components using semi-structured interviews with rural cancer survivors who indicated interest in a digital health intervention. The objective of the R00 phase is to optimize and test the RUCAS intervention in preparation for a larger randomized controlled trial. Aim 3 (R00) is to refine the RUCAS intervention using survey and interview evaluation data from a usability study. Aim 4 (R00) is to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary patterns of change in physical activity of the RUCAS intervention during a single-arm pilot study. Dr. Werts- Pelter’s long-term career and research goal is to establish herself as an independently funded cancer prevention and control researcher investigating the implementation of lifestyle behavior change interventions which address poor health outcomes among rural cancer survivors. To achieve this goal, Dr. Werts-Pelter proposes specialized training in physical activity intervention, the development and use of digital technology as a tool for health behavior intervention, and rural health. The proposed training will be completed under the mentorship of a robust team of investigators chosen based on their demonstrated success in academic research environments and their expertise in these desired areas of career growth. The proposed research and training plan will enable Dr. Werts-Pelter to transition to independence by providing protected time to develop new research skills, to collect preliminary pilot data, submit manuscripts, and, ultimately, to submit a competitive R01 application to establish herself as an independently funded investigator.