Text -Based Depression Screening Among Cancer Survivors
Evaluation of a Text Message-Based Approach to Depression Screening Among Cancer Survivors
Medical University of South Carolina
60 participants
Jan 5, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
Depression is common among cancer survivors, but current screening methods are not always effective. To help improve depression screening for cancer survivors, this study will conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 60 participants. The goal is to evaluate whether a text message-based approach to depression screening is feasible, acceptable, and potentially more effective than the current standard of care.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria5
- age \> 18 years
- diagnosis of cancer
- upcoming appointment in an HCC or HCN oncology clinic within 14 days
- English proficiency
- ownership of a cellphone with SMS text capability.
Interventions
Starting 1 week prior to the scheduled clinic appointment, patients will receive a text message invitation from HCC to complete depression screening. Participants will be asked to click to continue to the screening PHQ-2. For text message screening cadence, reminder texts will be sent daily for 3 days. Those who screen positive (PHQ-2 \>/= 3) will complete the remainder of the items (i.e., PHQ-9).
Usual care (UC) will consist of in-person assessment of depression using a validated brief screening tool (e.g., PHQ-2) synchronous with a clinical encounter with the outpatient oncology team. Although the person completing the screening (e.g., nurse, medical assistant) and other workflow may vary slightly across settings, the 2-items are generally presented orally to the patient during routine intake for a clinical encounter and entered into the EHR. Patients who screen positive will be asked to complete the full PHQ-9.
Locations(2)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
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NCT06894849