Abstract 6307: Feasibility of a survivorship app for black prostate cancer survivors: Results from a 12-week mHealth pilot study
Abstract Introduction: Black prostate cancer (CaP) survivors experience unique quality-of-life (QoL) and recovery challenges after treatment compared with their White counterparts. Smartphone-delivered mobile health interventions offer promising avenues for symptom tracking and lifestyle changes; but their feasibility, user engagement, and acceptability in this population remain unclear. This study assessed the feasibility, engagement, and preliminary impact of the Survivorship App for Ethnically Diverse Black Prostate Cancer Survivors (SAFE-CaPS), designed to improve self-monitoring behaviors and health outcomes. Methods: Nine Black CaP survivors (seven U.S.-born, one African-born, and one Caribbean-born) participated in a 12-week pilot study of SAFE-CaPS. The app provided daily prompts for symptoms (pain, sleep, fatigue, sexual function, anxiety, depression) and behavior tracking (physical activity, diet), brief self-management support, and physician alerts for severe symptom reports. Mental health (GAD-7 and PHQ-9) and QoL (FACT-P) were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Feasibility was evaluated based on adherence rates (i.e., ≥70% of daily diary entries). Engagement and acceptability were assessed via app analytics and qualitative interviews on usability and cultural relevance. Participants were compensated up to $125 via Greenphire ClinCard. Surveys were analyzed with SPSS v29, and interviews with Atlas.ti v23. Results: Participants’ median age at diagnosis was 56 years; six had a positive family history of CaP, and four had undergone radical prostatectomy. Four participants met the feasibility threshold, and eight completed the study. Most daily entries reflected mild pain, fatigue, bowel and urinary issues, and generally good sleep. Several participants frequently reported severe sexual dysfunction, and most diary responses indicated <20 minutes of physical activity per day. Fruit/vegetable intake was low, with about half of daily responses showing 1-2 servings. At baseline, eight participants had minimal anxiety, while five had moderate depression. Overall, QoL improved from week 1 to week 12 in physical, emotional, and functional well-being, while social well-being declined over time. Interviews emphasized the app’s user-friendly design, ease of navigation, and acceptability as key strengths, with several participants highlighting its simplicity and ease of use, with recommendations to reduce repetitive items and address minor technical issues. Conclusions: SAFE-CaPS was feasible and well accepted. Sexual dysfunction, low physical activity, and moderate depression emerged as key concerns, heightening the need for integrated mental health, activity support, and stronger engagement strategies in future mHealth interventions. Citation Format: Gaurav Kumar, Parisa Ghasemi, Yan D. Zhao, Zsolt Nagykaldi, Kathleen A. Dwyer, Andrew G. McIntosh, Ernie Kaninjing, Mary E. Young, Dickey Sabrina, Daniel Morton, Opeyemi Bolajoko, Darla E. Kendzor, Motolani Ogunsanya. Feasibility of a survivorship app for black prostate cancer survivors: Results from a 12-week mHealth pilot study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 6307.
Authors
- Zsolt Nagykáldi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1239-6164)
- Daniel J. Morton (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3931-5566)
- M. Ogunsanya
- Darla E. Kendzor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7273-1916)
- Opeyemi Bolajoko (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9841-4476)
- Mary Ellen Young (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6401-4346)
- Andrew G. McIntosh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3251-7197)
- Ernie Kaninjing
- Parisa Ghasemi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4633-6904)
- Kathleen Dwyer
- Gaurav Kumar
- Dickey Sabrina
- Yan D. Zhao
Institutions
- Florida State University (US)
- Georgia College & State University (US)
- Mayo Clinic in Florida (US)
- Nemours Children's Clinic (US)
- Foundation for Medical Research (IN)
- University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cancer Research
- Published
- 2026-04-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-6307
- Primary Topic
- Cardiovascular Health and Risk Factors
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00