A pilot randomized clinical trial of a smartphone-based application to support at-home PSA screening and culturally tailored prostate cancer education for African American men: A study protocol

Jordan Neil; Bingjing Mao; Ruosi Shao; Motolani E Ogunsanya; Summer Frank-Pearce; Michael Businelle; Michael Cookson; Kelly Stratton; Mark Doescher; Stephanie Pharr; Valerie Moise; Brianna Fleshman; Jack Fronheiser; Kimberly Estrada; Iván Flores; David Bradley; Ashley Kendrick; Adam C Alexander

doi:10.1016/j.cct.2024.107737

A pilot randomized clinical trial of a smartphone-based application to support at-home PSA screening and culturally tailored prostate cancer education for African American men: A study protocol

Contemp Clin Trials. 2024 Dec:147:107737. doi: 10.1016/j.cct.2024.107737. Epub 2024 Nov 10.

Authors

Jordan Neil¹, Bingjing Mao², Ruosi Shao³, Motolani E Ogunsanya¹, Summer Frank-Pearce⁴, Michael Businelle¹, Michael Cookson⁵, Kelly Stratton⁵, Mark Doescher⁶, Stephanie Pharr⁷, Valerie Moise⁷, Brianna Fleshman⁸, Jack Fronheiser⁸, Kimberly Estrada⁸, Iván Flores⁸, David Bradley⁸, Ashley Kendrick⁸, Adam C Alexander⁹

Affiliations

¹ TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, the University of Oklahoma Health Science Centers, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
² TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, the University of Oklahoma Health Science Centers, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans, United States.
³ TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, the University of Oklahoma Health Science Centers, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; School of Communication, Florida State University, Florida, USA; School of Communication, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
⁴ TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, the University of Oklahoma Health Science Centers, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
⁵ Department of Urology, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
⁶ Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Community Outreach and Engagement Core, Stephenson Cancer Center, the University of Oklahoma Health Science Centers, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
⁷ Community Outreach and Engagement Core, Stephenson Cancer Center, the University of Oklahoma Health Science Centers, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
⁸ TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, the University of Oklahoma Health Science Centers, Oklahoma City, OK, USA.
⁹ TSET Health Promotion Research Center, Stephenson Cancer Center, the University of Oklahoma Health Science Centers, Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

Abstract

Background: Prostate cancer is the most diagnosed cancer in Black/African American men (AA) and the second‑leading cause of cancer-related deaths. A prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test is an early detection screening tool for prostate cancer, but uptake of PSA screening remains low among AA men. Greater PSA screening rates among AA men, coupled with earlier treatment, may reduce disparities in prostate cancer outcomes, including mortality. The current pilot study will test the first-of-its-kind mobile health (mHealth) app to improve prostate cancer knowledge and increase PSA screening uptake among AA men using home-based screening methods.

Methods: AA men aged 55 to 69 and are not up to date with PSA screening will be randomly assigned 1:1 to receive a prostate cancer screening app: Prevention Taskforce App (Taskforce App; control condition) or the Prostate Cancer Genius App (Genius App; intervention condition), which was developed specifically for AA men.

Results: We will evaluate the preliminary efficacy of the apps via post-intervention group differences on the validated 18-item Prostate Cancer Knowledge Scale (primary outcome). We will also explore post-intervention group differences in perceived engagement, accessibility, and acceptability between the apps. Finally, we will derive preliminary estimates of PSA screening rates between study conditions and identify mechanisms of screening adherence.

Discussion: mHealth apps offer promise to improve prostate cancer knowledge and screening rates among AA men. Demonstrating the preliminary efficacy of the Genius App will support future fully-powered mHealth interventions to address health disparities.

Keywords: African American; Disparities; Mobile health; Prostate cancer; Prostate-specific antigen; cancer screening.

Publication types

Clinical Trial Protocol

MeSH terms

Aged
Black or African American*
Early Detection of Cancer* / methods
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Mobile Applications*
Pilot Projects
Prostate-Specific Antigen* / blood
Prostatic Neoplasms* / diagnosis
Prostatic Neoplasms* / ethnology
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
Smartphone*
Telemedicine

Substances

Prostate-Specific Antigen

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding