Background

Diet is associated with colorectal cancer survival. Yet, adherence to nutrition guidelines is low among colorectal cancer survivors.

Methods

We conducted a pilot trial among colorectal cancer survivors to evaluate a 12-week remote dietary intervention. Participants received print materials and were randomized (1:1) to intervention (website, text messages) or wait-list control. Primary outcomes included feasibility and acceptability. We also explored change in diet from 0 to 12 and 24 weeks and change from 0 to 12 weeks in anthropometry and circulating biomarkers (Trial Registration: NCT02965521).

Results

We randomized 50 colorectal cancer survivors (25 intervention, 25 control). Retention was 90% at 12 weeks and 84% at 24 weeks. Participants had a median age of 55 years and were 66% female, 70% non-Hispanic white, and 96% had a college degree. The intervention arm responded to a median 15 (71%) of 21 text messages that asked for a reply [interquartile range (IQR) = 8, 19] and visited the website a median of 13 (15%) days (IQR = 1, 33) of the 84 study days.

Conclusions

We developed a Web-based dietary intervention for colorectal cancer survivors. Our pilot results suggest that colorectal cancer survivors may engage more with text messages than a study website. Research to improve tailoring of text messages, while maintaining scalability, is needed.

Impact

Remote dietary interventions using text messages may be feasible for colorectal cancer survivors.See all articles in this CEBP Focus section, "Modernizing Population Science."