Telemedicine-mHealth Symptom Cluster Intervention for Advanced Cancer Patients: Finding Our Center Under Stress (FOCUS)
This clinical trial studies whether a telemedicine-mobile health (mHealth) intervention, Finding Our Center Under Stress (FOCUS), improves symptom management in patients with cancer that may have spread from where it first started to nearby tissue, lymph nodes, or distant parts of the body (advanced). Patients with advanced cancer often experience difficulties with sleep, worry, fatigue, and sometimes mood. FOCUS uses cognitive-behavioral and acceptance and commitment therapy strategies designed to improve these symptoms. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a type of counseling focused on how the ways that people think (cognitive) and what they do (behavioral) can change the way they feel. Acceptance and commitment therapy is an intervention which has demonstrated success in treating symptoms by teaching strategies to focus time and energy on valued activities despite symptoms. This may be an effective way for patients with advanced cancer to manage their symptoms.
Ask AI to explain this studyKey things to know
This describes the study’s primary purpose.
The study team can explain what participation involves.
These are broad labels—not an eligibility decision.
Checked against the public recordLast updated Aug 17, 2026 · Source: ClinicalTrials.gov
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Interventional
Locations may change over time.
Study sponsor
What this study is about
- Purpose
- Supportive Care
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Sponsor
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Interventions being studied
- Behavioral: mHealth Intervention
How this study is categorized
These labels come from structured fields and exact terms in the public record.
Who may be able to participate
The sponsor separates these requirements into two groups. You do not need to interpret them alone—use them to guide a conversation with the study team.
- Participants will include 120 people with advanced cancer who are ≥ 18 yrs old
- Able to read and write in English
- Who use internet and e-mail as determined by Computer \& Mobile Device Proficiency Questionnaire.
- People with stage IIIb\&c/IV lung cancer, stage IV breast cancer, stage IV prostate cancer, advanced (on active treatment) multiple myeloma, and stage IIIb \& IV melanoma (24 of each cancer type)
- meet clinical cut-offs on any two symptoms in this cluster (i.e., ≥ 8 on Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), ≥ 3 on Patient Health Questionnaire-2 for depression, ≥ 2 on Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2, ≥ 3 on Fatigue Symptom Inventory Severity)
- Night-shift work
- Untreated bipolar disorder
- Substance use disorder
- Cognitive impairment per Brief Screen for Cognitive Impairment
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 3 or greater (in bed 50% or more of day), or \<6 mos predicted survival per oncology team.
- Prior participation in cognitive behavior therapy will not be an exclusion criterion if individuals meet symptom severity threshold for at least two symptoms.
Important: This is the sponsor’s public criteria, not a determination of eligibility. The study team must review your individual situation.
U.S. locations
- Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer CenterColumbus, Ohio
Source and freshness
Processed from ClinicalTrials.gov. Last public update: Aug 17, 2026. Always confirm current availability with the study team.