STAMP+CBT
STAMP+CBT is a smartphone application to help people with cancer better manage their pain. The app helps people keep track of their pain, pain-related symptoms like mood and sleep, and their pain medication use.
About the Study
Each day, the app sends a brief survey about pain control, mood, sleep, stress, medication use, and medication side effects. Then it uses app-based algorithms to provide tailored education and suggestions in response to users’ survey answers.
Features
The STAMP+CBT app delivers brief daily educational content relevant to cancer pain.
User-Friendly Design
Illustrated Articles
Animated Videos
Behavioral Video Games
Audio Relaxation Exercises
Clinician Experts
Information reported on the app is shared with the research team through a secure web-based portal.
This information is then shared with app users’ medical teams to facilitate communication between patients and providers and collaboration to control symptoms.
STAMP+CBT has been iteratively tested and reviewed by people with cancer and expert clinicians.
Following a period of initial development, patients at Stephenson Cancer Center and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute participated in a pre-pilot of the STAMP+CBT app to refine content and functionalities. This study found that the app was feasible and acceptable for patients with advanced cancer. They appreciated the tone of the app and felt that the cancer pain content was very relatable. They also emphasized that the survey feedback and educational content validated their experience while encouraging the practice of pain self-management skills.
This project was funded by the National Palliative Care Research Center and the National Institute of Health, National Cancer Institute. Findings from initial app development and pre-pilot testing have been published in Supportive Care in Cancer and Psycho-Oncology.
BCPI recently completed pilot testing of the STAMP+CBT app with funding from the National Cancer Institute.
Twenty-six patients recruited from Stephenson Cancer Center tested the app at home for twenty-eight days and provided feedback on the app. In addition to the daily surveys, patients were asked to take a baseline survey, an end-of-intervention-period survey, and a two-week follow-up survey. Seventeen patients also participated in an optional qualitative interview about their experience. BCPI is currently analyzing data from this pilot test and aims to publish findings soon.
In fall 2024, BCPI plans to initiate a randomized controlled pilot of the STAMP+CBT app with patients recruited from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
Image courtesy of NIH
More from the STAMP+CBT App
Additional images from the STAMP+CBT app, game, and educational content
