Surviving and thriving with cancer using a Web-based health behavior change intervention: randomized controlled trial

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Behavioral Science
• Digital Health

Background:

• Millions of adult cancer survivors live with potential long-term side effects.
• Lifestyle behavior changes can effectively manage or alleviate cancer survivorship symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a six-week, web-based intervention designed to promote multiple health behavior changes in adult cancer survivors.

Main Methods:

• 352 adult cancer survivors, 4 weeks to 5 years post-treatment, were recruited from clinics, registries, and online platforms.
• Participants were randomized to a web-based intervention or a control group.
• The intervention focused on multiple health behavior changes.

Main Results:

• 303 survivors completed the 6-month follow-up.
• The web-based program significantly reduced insomnia.
• Participants in the intervention group showed greater increases in vigorous exercise and stretching minutes per week compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• The web-based intervention effectively improved insomnia and exercise habits among cancer survivors.
• The study population was generally healthy and well-adjusted at baseline, potentially limiting the scope for substantial behavior change.
• Future research should explore specific benefits of web-based interventions, including social networking components.