Text Message-based Screening to Identify Depression in Cancer Survivors

This clinical trial compares the impact of text message-based screening to usual care, in-person clinic-based screening, on identifying depression in cancer survivors. The number of cancer survivors is rapidly growing and nearly 1 in 4 suffer from depressive symptoms. Cancer survivors with depression are more likely to experience treatment delays and are less likely to adhere to recommended cancer-directed therapy than survivors without depression. Depressive symptoms may also increase symptom burden and decrease physical and social function leading to a poorer overall quality of life. Guidelines recommend routine screening for depression and currently, patients are screened at an in-person visit using a validated brief screening tool. Unfortunately, this approach is inadequate and studies have shown that less than 60% of cancer survivors receive depression screening. Text message-based screening is conducted automatically before a clinic visit and is integrated seamlessly into the medical record. This approach does not interrupt the clinic workflow, is low cost and overcomes the barrier of busy schedules. Text message-based screening may be more effective in identifying depression than in-person clinic screening in cancer survivors.

Study sponsor and potential other locations can be found on ClinicalTrials.gov for NCT06894849.

Trial PhaseNo phase specified

Trial Typesupportive care

Lead OrganizationMedical University of South Carolina

Principal InvestigatorEvan M. Graboyes

• Primary ID26061/104183
• Secondary IDsNCI-2025-09275, Pro00142039
• ClinicalTrials.gov IDNCT06894849