Pediatric Cancer Chemotherapy-Related Symptoms AnxietyNCT07362615
An AI-Assisted Art Therapy Co-Creation Intervention
A study testing AI-based art-based program in people with Pediatric Cancer Chemotherapy-Related Symptoms Anxiety, run by Gazi University.
Trial summary
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of an AI-assisted interactive art therapy co-creation intervention on symptom burden, state anxiety, and emotional regulation in pediatric patients receiving chemotherapy. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 10 to 18 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Pediatric Cancer Chemotherapy-Related Symptoms Anxiety
- What is being tested?
- AI-based art-based program
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 20 Jan 2026to 20 May 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 10 to 18 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Be between 10 and 18 years of age
- Have been receiving chemotherapy treatment for at least 6 months
- Be between days 1 and 4 of a new chemotherapy cycle
- Be able to communicate in Turkish
- Be clinically stable
- The participant and their parent/guardian must consent to participate in the study and provide written consent
Who cannot join
- • Severe neurocognitive impairment, severe physical instability, or being under sedation
- Experiencing a severe traumatic life event unrelated to the disease within the last 6 months
- Being in the terminal phase clinically
- Being under clinical observation due to a psychiatric diagnosis
- Having fatigue, pain, or medical complications that would prevent participation in the intervention
About this study
Official title: An AI-Assisted Art Therapy Co-Creation Intervention for Symptom Burden, Anxiety, and Emotional Regulation in Pediatric Chemotherapy Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of an AI-assisted interactive art therapy co-creation intervention on symptom burden, state anxiety, and emotional regulation in pediatric patients receiving chemotherapy. The study will be conducted as a parallel-group randomized controlled trial at the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology units of Gazi University Health Application and Research Center between February 2026 and May 2027. A total of 60 children aged 10-18 years who are undergoing a new chemotherapy cycle will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving a four-day AI-assisted art-based program or a control group receiving standard care. Outcome measures will be assessed before and after the intervention period. The study aims to provide evidence on the feasibility and effectiveness of a short-term, technology-assisted psychosocial intervention to support emotional well-being in children undergoing chemotherapy.
Read the detailed description
Childhood cancer and its treatment are associated with significant physical and psychological symptom burden, particularly during chemotherapy. Children frequently experience multiple concurrent symptoms such as nausea, pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances, accompanied by heightened anxiety and emotional distress. These challenges highlight the need for brief, feasible, and developmentally appropriate psychosocial interventions that can be integrated into routine clinical care during active treatment.
This study is designed as a parallel-group randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of an AI-assisted interactive art therapy co-creation intervention on symptom burden, state anxiety, and emotional regulation in pediatric chemotherapy patients. The study will be conducted at the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology units of Gazi University Health Application and Research Center between February 2026 and May 2027.
The study population will consist of children aged 10-18 years who have been receiving cancer treatment for at least six months and are in the first 1-4 days of a new chemotherapy cycle. Eligible participants who meet the inclusion criteria and provide written informed consent (from both the child and parent/legal guardian) will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group using simple randomization. Randomization will be performed by an independent statistician using an online randomization tool.
The intervention group will receive an AI-assisted interactive art-based program delivered over four consecutive days during chemotherapy, with daily sessions lasting approximately 20-30 minutes. The program is structured into four thematic sessions: (1) creating a sense of safety and introduction through co-created visual artwork with AI, (2) symbolic representation of chemotherapy-related symptoms and coping strategies, (3) exploration of social support and relationships, and (4) future-oriented themes focusing on hope and emotional closure. In each session, children will co-create visual content with AI-generated imagery and complete the artwork with their own drawings.
The control group will receive standard clinical care without any additional psychosocial intervention. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline (prior to the intervention) and after completion of the four-day program. Data collection tools include a demographic information form, the Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi), the State Anxiety Inventory for Children, and the Emotion Regulation Scale for Children.
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate whether the AI-assisted interactive art intervention reduces symptom burden and state anxiety and improves emotional regulation compared to standard care. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of innovative, short-term, and clinically applicable psychosocial interventions and to provide evidence regarding the use of AI-assisted art-based approaches in pediatric oncology care.
- Being tested
- AI-based art-based program
- Keywords
- pediatric oncology, chemotherapy, AI-assisted intervention, Digital art therapy
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
AI-based art-based programOther
The intervention is an AI-assisted interactive art therapy co-creation program designed to support symptom management, emotional regulation, and anxiety reduction in pediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy. The program is delivered individually during the first 1-4 days of a new chemotherapy cycle and consists of four consecutive daily sessions, each lasting approximately 20-30 minutes.
The intervention integrates artificial intelligence-generated visual content with child-led artistic expression. In each session, the child interacts with an AI system to generate visual images based on predefined therapeutic themes and personal emotional input. The child then actively completes and personalizes the AI-generated images using their own drawings, colors, and symbols, facilitating emotional expression and engagement.
The four sessions are structured as follows: (1) establishment of a sense of safety and orientation through initial AI-assisted co-created artwork; (2) symbolic represent
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group | No intervention | Received standard care |
| Intervention Group | Experimental | Participating in an AI-powered art-based program Receives: Other: AI-based art-based program |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Emotional Regulation
Emotional regulation will be assessed using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents. This self-report scale evaluates the use of emotional regulation strategies across two subscales: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. The scale consists of 10 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Higher subscale scores indicate more frequent use of the corresponding emotional regulation strategy.
Measured: Baseline (prior to the intervention) and immediately after completion of the 4-day intervention period
Symptom Burden
Symptom burden will be assessed using the Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi), a validated self-report instrument for children aged 8-18 years undergoing cancer treatment. The scale includes 15 common physical and psychological symptoms experienced during chemotherapy. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 0 to 60. Higher scores indicate greater symptom burden and distress.
Measured: Baseline (prior to the intervention) and immediately after completion of the 4-day intervention period
State Anxiety
State anxiety will be measured using the State Anxiety Inventory for Children, a 20-item self-report scale designed to assess situational anxiety levels in children and adolescents aged 8-18 years. Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 20 to 80. Higher scores reflect higher levels of state anxiety.
Measured: Baseline (prior to the intervention) and immediately after completion of the 4-day intervention period
Secondary outcomes (1)
Intervention Acceptability
Intervention acceptability and participant satisfaction will be assessed using a researcher-developed process evaluation form. Children will rate their perceived comfort, enjoyment, and satisfaction with the intervention on a numeric scale ranging from 0 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater acceptability.
Measured: Immediately after completion of the intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted23 Jan 2026
- Study start20 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion20 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion20 May 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Pediatric Cancer Chemotherapy-Related Symptoms AnxietyStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This study uses a parallel-group randomized controlled design. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group, which will receive an AI-assisted interactive art-based co-creation program in addition to standard care, or the control group, which will receive standard care alone. Participants will remain in their assigned groups throughout the study, and outcomes will be assessed before and after the four-day intervention period.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Gazi University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Hazal Ozdemir Koyu, Gazi University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07362615
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025-2254
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 15 Jan 2026
- Last updated
- 23 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided: A decision regarding the sharing of individual participant data has not yet been made. Any future data sharing will be considered following completion of the study, in accordance with ethical approval, participant consent, and applicable data protection regulations.
Publications
1. Chen, Y., Chen, X., Li, L., Li, Y., Yan, Q., & Hu, X. (2025). The efficacy of virtual reality-based interventions on pain, anxiety, depression, and quality of life among patients with cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Cancer Nursing, 10.1097. 2. Çelik, R., Törüner, E. K., Altay, N., & Bayram, D. (2024). The Validity-Reliability Study of Turkish Version of Electronical Symptom Screening Tool (8-18) in SSPedi-Pediatric Patients with Cancer. Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences, 14(3), 827-834. 3. Dupuis, L. L., Vettese, E., Aftandilian, C., Agarwal, V., Baggott, C., Bradfield, S. M., Crellin-Parsons, N., Freyer, D. R., Kelly, K. M., & King, A. A. (2025). Factors Associated With Self-Report Symptom Screening Adherence in Pediatric Cancer Patients. Cancer Medicine, 14(14), e71053. 4. Gerçeker, G. Ö., Bektaş, M., Önal, A., Kudubeş, A. A., & Çeçen, R. E. (2024). The effect of virtual reality distraction and fatigue training on anxiety and fatigue levels in children with cancer: a randomized controlled study. SEMINARS IN ONCOLOGY NURSING, 5. Hinds, P. S., Grossoehme, D. H., & Reeve, B. B. (2023). One Voice Is Good, But More Is Better: Symptom and Toxicity Reporting in Pediatric Oncology. Cancer Nursing, 46(1), 1-2. 6. Hüzmeli, H., Semerci, R., & Kebudi, R. (2024). The effect of therapeutic play on fear, anxiety, and satisfaction levels of pediatric oncology patients receiving chemotherapy. Journal of pediatric nursing, 77, e195-e201. 7. Jibb, L. A., Yu, A., Nanos, S., Malfitano, C., Foran, L., Hunt, K., Malakian, A., Zimmermann, C., Schultebraucks, K., & Pham, N. A. (2025). The Emotion and Symptom-Focused Engagement (EASE) Psychotherapeutic Intervention for Parents of Children With Acute Leukemia: A Feasibility Trial. Psycho-Oncology, 34(11), e70310. 8. Kisecik Sengul, Z., & Kilicarslan, E. (2025). Investigation into the impact of technology-based motivation program applied to children following cancer diagnosis and their families: a r
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 23 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- An AI-Assisted Art Therapy Co-Creation Intervention for Symptom Burden, Anxiety, and Emotional Regulation in Pediatric Chemotherapy Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07362615
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2025-2254
- Keywords
- pediatric oncology, chemotherapy, AI-assisted intervention, Digital art therapy
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Gazi UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 20 Jan 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 20 May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 20 May 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 23 Jan 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of an AI-assisted interactive art therapy co-creation intervention on symptom burden, state anxiety, and emotional regulation in pediatric patients receiving chemotherapy. The study will be conducted as a parallel-group randomized controlled trial at the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology units of Gazi University Health Application and Research Center between February 2026 and May 2027. A total of 60 children aged 10-18 years who are undergoing a new chemotherapy cycle will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving a four-day AI-assisted art-based program or a control group receiving standard care. Outcome measures will be assessed before and after the intervention period. The study aims to provide evidence on the feasibility and effectiveness of a short-term, technology-assisted psychosocial intervention to support emotional well-being in children undergoing chemotherapy.
Detailed description
Childhood cancer and its treatment are associated with significant physical and psychological symptom burden, particularly during chemotherapy. Children frequently experience multiple concurrent symptoms such as nausea, pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances, accompanied by heightened anxiety and emotional distress. These challenges highlight the need for brief, feasible, and developmentally appropriate psychosocial interventions that can be integrated into routine clinical care during active treatment.
This study is designed as a parallel-group randomized controlled trial to examine the effects of an AI-assisted interactive art therapy co-creation intervention on symptom burden, state anxiety, and emotional regulation in pediatric chemotherapy patients. The study will be conducted at the Pediatric Hematology-Oncology units of Gazi University Health Application and Research Center between February 2026 and May 2027.
The study population will consist of children aged 10-18 years who have been receiving cancer treatment for at least six months and are in the first 1-4 days of a new chemotherapy cycle. Eligible participants who meet the inclusion criteria and provide written informed consent (from both the child and parent/legal guardian) will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group or the control group using simple randomization. Randomization will be performed by an independent statistician using an online randomization tool.
The intervention group will receive an AI-assisted interactive art-based program delivered over four consecutive days during chemotherapy, with daily sessions lasting approximately 20-30 minutes. The program is structured into four thematic sessions: (1) creating a sense of safety and introduction through co-created visual artwork with AI, (2) symbolic representation of chemotherapy-related symptoms and coping strategies, (3) exploration of social support and relationships, and (4) future-oriented themes focusing on hope and emotional closure. In each session, children will co-create visual content with AI-generated imagery and complete the artwork with their own drawings.
The control group will receive standard clinical care without any additional psychosocial intervention. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline (prior to the intervention) and after completion of the four-day program. Data collection tools include a demographic information form, the Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi), the State Anxiety Inventory for Children, and the Emotion Regulation Scale for Children.
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate whether the AI-assisted interactive art intervention reduces symptom burden and state anxiety and improves emotional regulation compared to standard care. The findings are expected to contribute to the development of innovative, short-term, and clinically applicable psychosocial interventions and to provide evidence regarding the use of AI-assisted art-based approaches in pediatric oncology care.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This study uses a parallel-group randomized controlled design. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention group, which will receive an AI-assisted interactive art-based co-creation program in addition to standard care, or the control group, which will receive standard care alone. Participants will remain in their assigned groups throughout the study, and outcomes will be assessed before and after the four-day intervention period.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control Group | No intervention | –Received standard care |
| Intervention Group | Experimental | Other: AI-based art-based programParticipating in an AI-powered art-based program |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 10 to 18 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Be between 10 and 18 years of age
- Have been receiving chemotherapy treatment for at least 6 months
- Be between days 1 and 4 of a new chemotherapy cycle
- Be able to communicate in Turkish
- Be clinically stable
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- • Severe neurocognitive impairment, severe physical instability, or being under sedation
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| AI-based art-based programThe intervention is an AI-assisted interactive art therapy co-creation program designed to support symptom management, emotional regulation, and anxiety reduction in pediatric patients undergoing chemotherapy. The program is delivered individually during the first 1-4 days of a new chemotherapy cycle and consists of four consecutive daily sessions, each lasting approximately 20-30 minutes. The intervention integrates artificial intelligence-generated visual content with child-led artistic expression. In each session, the child interacts with an AI system to generate visual images based on predefined therapeutic themes and personal emotional input. The child then actively completes and personalizes the AI-generated images using their own drawings, colors, and symbols, facilitating emotional expression and engagement. The four sessions are structured as follows: (1) establishment of a sense of safety and orientation through initial AI-assisted co-created artwork; (2) symbolic represent | Other | Intervention Group |
Primary outcome
Emotional Regulation
Time frame: Baseline (prior to the intervention) and immediately after completion of the 4-day intervention period
Emotional regulation will be assessed using the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents. This self-report scale evaluates the use of emotional regulation strategies across two subscales: cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression. The scale consists of 10 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale. Higher subscale scores indicate more frequent use of the corresponding emotional regulation strategy.
Symptom Burden
Time frame: Baseline (prior to the intervention) and immediately after completion of the 4-day intervention period
Symptom burden will be assessed using the Symptom Screening in Pediatrics Tool (SSPedi), a validated self-report instrument for children aged 8-18 years undergoing cancer treatment. The scale includes 15 common physical and psychological symptoms experienced during chemotherapy. Each item is rated on a 5-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 0 to 60. Higher scores indicate greater symptom burden and distress.
State Anxiety
Time frame: Baseline (prior to the intervention) and immediately after completion of the 4-day intervention period
State anxiety will be measured using the State Anxiety Inventory for Children, a 20-item self-report scale designed to assess situational anxiety levels in children and adolescents aged 8-18 years. Items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale, with total scores ranging from 20 to 80. Higher scores reflect higher levels of state anxiety.
1 secondary outcome
Intervention Acceptability
Time frame: Immediately after completion of the intervention
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 23 Jan 2026.
- Results publication1. Chen, Y., Chen, X., Li, L., Li, Y., Yan, Q., & Hu, X. (2025). The efficacy of virtual reality-based interventions on pain, anxiety, depression, and quality of life among patients with cancer: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Cancer Nursing, 10.1097. 2. Çelik, R., Törüner, E. K., Altay, N., & Bayram, D. (2024). The Validity-Reliability Study of Turkish Version of Electronical Symptom Screening Tool (8-18) in SSPedi-Pediatric Patients with Cancer. Clinical and Experimental Health Sciences, 14(3), 827-834. 3. Dupuis, L. L., Vettese, E., Aftandilian, C., Agarwal, V., Baggott, C., Bradfield, S. M., Crellin-Parsons, N., Freyer, D. R., Kelly, K. M., & King, A. A. (2025). Factors Associated With Self-Report Symptom Screening Adherence in Pediatric Cancer Patients. Cancer Medicine, 14(14), e71053. 4. Gerçeker, G. Ö., Bektaş, M., Önal, A., Kudubeş, A. A., & Çeçen, R. E. (2024). The effect of virtual reality distraction and fatigue training on anxiety and fatigue levels in children with cancer: a randomized controlled study. SEMINARS IN ONCOLOGY NURSING, 5. Hinds, P. S., Grossoehme, D. H., & Reeve, B. B. (2023). One Voice Is Good, But More Is Better: Symptom and Toxicity Reporting in Pediatric Oncology. Cancer Nursing, 46(1), 1-2. 6. Hüzmeli, H., Semerci, R., & Kebudi, R. (2024). The effect of therapeutic play on fear, anxiety, and satisfaction levels of pediatric oncology patients receiving chemotherapy. Journal of pediatric nursing, 77, e195-e201. 7. Jibb, L. A., Yu, A., Nanos, S., Malfitano, C., Foran, L., Hunt, K., Malakian, A., Zimmermann, C., Schultebraucks, K., & Pham, N. A. (2025). The Emotion and Symptom-Focused Engagement (EASE) Psychotherapeutic Intervention for Parents of Children With Acute Leukemia: A Feasibility Trial. Psycho-Oncology, 34(11), e70310. 8. Kisecik Sengul, Z., & Kilicarslan, E. (2025). Investigation into the impact of technology-based motivation program applied to children following cancer diagnosis and their families: a r
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided. A decision regarding the sharing of individual participant data has not yet been made. Any future data sharing will be considered following completion of the study, in accordance with ethical approval, participant consent, and applicable data protection regulations.
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing AI-based art-based program in people with Pediatric Cancer Chemotherapy-Related Symptoms Anxiety, run by Gazi University.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 23 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Emotional Regulation (time frame: Baseline (prior to the intervention) and immediately after completion of the 4-day intervention period). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07362615, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 23 Jan 2026.