A New Multi-functional and Connected Mobile App Guiding Acupressure Use for Self-management and Monitoring of Cancer Related Fatigue and Sleep Disturbances

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PROJECT SUMMARY Fatigue and sleep disturbances, common, distressing, and debilitating symptoms of cancer and its treatment, negatively impact physical, emotional, and social health of millions of cancer patients. Most of the 1.7 million Americans diagnosed with cancer in 2020 will suffer cancer and treatment-related symptoms; up to 90% receiving treatment experience fatigue; 30% may experience long-lasting fatigue. Sleep disturbances (affecting up to 75% of patients) contribute to poor health and may exacerbate fatigue. Mounting evidence indicates that acupressure, which is unfamiliar and infrequently used by cancer survivors, can reduce fatigue and improve sleep. 5 Point App, Inc. is developing its first mobile health (mHealth) software, EnergyPoints, a patient activation and educational app that offers an opportunity to mainstream acupressure—a beneficial strategy to help cancer patients self-manage their symptoms. The EnergyPoints App will motivate and guide cancer patients to implement daily acupressure protocols to self-manage fatigue and sleep disturbances. The app will connect individual sleep and activity data synced from an Apple Watch/Fitbit with self-reports of symptoms, allowing patients and clinical providers to monitor symptom response to acupressure self-treatment. The long- term goal is to improve quality of life for cancer patients suffering from fatigue and sleep disturbances using acupressure as a safe, universally affordable self-care technique. The team will first develop a fully functional prototype app, validating data accuracy and debugging programming. Specific aim 1 is to confirm cancer patients can accurately and consistently self-administer two acupressure protocols using the app. Specific aim 2 is to assess the usability of the app and the fitness tracker. Using an integrated agile, user-centered approach, 20 patients with cancer who are experiencing fatigue will use the app to self-administer acupressure (twice daily for 1 week) while wearing a fitness tracker. User performance video-recordings, and feedback via talk-aloud session, debriefing, and exit interview, will be used to improve all prototype app features in sprints. Results will provide evidence of feasibility and usability: specifically, the EnergyPoints prototype app can teach and guide cancer patients to perform acupressure as directed, is acceptable, and can connect and accurately share important health data from a fitness tracker. In a subsequent Phase 2 SBIR application, a clinical trial is planned to examine efficacy of the app in improving fatigue and sleep in a sample of cancer patients. Additionally, EnergyPoints App features will be extended by adding: 1) use of essential oils; 2) tailored acupressure delivery; 3) clinical monitoring to integrate with cancer care; 4) social connection features, 5) additional measures (e.g. pain, depression, activation) and 6) compatibility with other trackers (e.g. Amazon Halo). Potential users include millions of cancer patients before and after treatment. The initial commercialization strategy includes multiple revenue streams and marketing directed towards patients, caregivers, practitioners, cancer centers, hospitals, medical practices, and corporate sponsors.