CommunicationNCT07454460
AYA-PeerConnect: A Communication Coaching Intervention for Adolescent/Young Adult Cancer Survivors (AYACS)
A study testing Asynchronous coaching and artificial intelligence (AI) Yoodli coach sessions in people with Communication and Anxiety, run by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This research is being done to test a communication coaching intervention pilot designed to improve communication quality between adolescent/young adult cancer survivors (AYACS) and their friends/peers. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 35 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Communication, Anxiety, Depression
- What is being tested?
- Asynchronous coaching and artificial intelligence (AI) Yoodli coach sessions
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 11 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 14 Apr 2026to 4 Sep 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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 18 to 35 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Participant is currently ≥18-35 years old
- Participant is receiving cancer-directed care at Penn State Cancer Institute or Penn State Children's Hospital
- Participant has completed all cancer-directed therapy and is at least 1 year from end of cancer treatment (based on date of last cancer-directed treatment)
- Participant has access to a computer with internet capability
- Participant is fluent in written and spoken English
Who cannot join
- Participant is not fluent in written and spoken English
- Participant with cognitive inability to participant in the study as determined by the study team
- Participants with history of relapsed cancer
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033
About this study
This research is being done to test a communication coaching intervention pilot designed to improve communication quality between adolescent/young adult cancer survivors (AYACS) and their friends/peers. The results of the study will help to understand how to best support adolescent/young adult cancer survivors, and may inform the development or future implementation of similar programs for cancer survivor populations.
Read the detailed description
This study is being done to test a communication coaching intervention designed to improve communication quality between adolescent/young adult cancer survivors (AYACS) and their friends/peers. The results of the study will help to understand how to best support adolescent/young adult cancer survivors, and may inform the development or future implementation of similar programs for cancer survivor populations.
- Conditions
- Communication, Anxiety, Depression, Social Isolation
- Being tested
- Asynchronous coaching and artificial intelligence (AI) Yoodli coach sessions
- Keywords
- Communication, Anxiety, Depression, Social Isolation
- Medical subject headings
- Communication, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Social Isolation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Asynchronous coaching and artificial intelligence (AI) Yoodli coach sessionsBehavioural
Participants will complete asynchronous individual sessions for Visits 2-4. Each visit will include a 60-minute interactive didactic session using Rise 360 software, with a 20-minute Yoodli AI coaching session (both Rise 360 and Yoodli will be accessed via website). Rise 360 sessions will cover topics related to communication style, multiple goals theory and how to apply concepts learned in being good communicators. Yoodli AI coaching session will be completed for the corresponding Rise 360 session before moving to the next visit's session.
The 20-minute Yoodli AI coaching sessions will include coaching from the Yoodli AI coach and practicing various peer conversation situations. These sessions will consolidate and reinforce concepts learned in the didactic sessions. The Yoodli AI coach is programmed with input on relationship style (a communication tool to assess communication style) to deliver personalized coaching.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous coaching and artificial intelligence (AI) Yoodli coach sessions | Experimental | The intervention will use a combination of asynchronous communication coaching sessions, and AI Yoodli coach sessions. Receives: Behavioral: Asynchronous coaching and artificial intelligence (AI) Yoodli coach sessions |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Intervention Feasibility (Quantitative)
Quantitative feasibility will be collected based on visit attendance.
Measured: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Intervention Feasibility (Qualitative)
Qualitative feasibility data will be collected from post-module mixed methods assessments, and exit interviews and focus groups.
Measured: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Intervention Acceptability (Quantitative)
Quantitative acceptability will be collected using an acceptability questionnaire. Quantitative acceptability will be integrated with qualitative data from post-module mixed methods assessments, and exit interviews and focus groups to understand intervention acceptability.
Measured: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Intervention Acceptability (Qualitative)
Qualitative acceptability data will be collected from post-module mixed methods assessments, and exit interviews and focus groups.
Measured: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Communication quality Multiple Goals Score
Rating process for communication quality analysis (CQA) domains. A domain score is calculated for each of the six communication quality domains (content, emotion, accommodation, engagement, relationship, and face). Using the emotion domain as an example, the neutral score is assigned as a "1," and as participants express emotion (as per the definition above and further detailed in the CQA codebook) the score increases with the highest quality score being "7". A domain score is assigned every five minutes for each of the six domains. The full range for each measure is 6 (most neutral)-42 (highest quality).
Measured: Baseline
Communication quality Multiple Goals Score
Rating process for communication quality analysis (CQA) domains. A domain score is calculated for each of the six communication quality domains (content, emotion, accommodation, engagement, relationship, and face). Using the emotion domain as an example, the neutral score is assigned as a "1," and as participants express emotion (as per the definition above and further detailed in the CQA codebook) the score increases with the highest quality score being "7". A domain score is assigned every five minutes for each of the six domains. The full range for each measure is 6 (most neutral)-42 (highest quality).
Measured: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Secondary outcomes (6)
Anxiety
Anxiety will be measured using the Anxiety (Emotional Distress-Anxiety-Short Form 8a) measure from the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). It is an 8-item self-report questionnaire assessing anxiety symptoms over the past 7 days, including fear, tension, and worry. It is scored on a 5-point Likert scale (1=Never, 2=Rarely, 3=Sometimes, 4=Often, 5=Always).
Measured: Baseline
Anxiety
Anxiety will be measured using the Anxiety (Emotional Distress-Anxiety-Short Form 8a) measure from the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). It is an 8-item self-report questionnaire assessing anxiety symptoms over the past 7 days, including fear, tension, and worry. It is scored on a 5-point Likert scale (1=Never, 2=Rarely, 3=Sometimes, 4=Often, 5=Always).
Measured: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Depression
Depression will be measured using the Depression (Emotional Distress-Depression-Short Form 8b) measure from the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). It is an 8-item, self-report questionnaire assessing negative mood, views of self, and social cognition over the past seven days. It uses a 5-point scale (1=Never, 5=Always) to measure severity.
Measured: Baseline
Depression
Depression will be measured using the Depression (Emotional Distress-Depression-Short Form 8b) measure from the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). It is an 8-item, self-report questionnaire assessing negative mood, views of self, and social cognition over the past seven days. It uses a 5-point scale (1=Never, 5=Always) to measure severity.
Measured: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Social isolation
Social isolation will be measured by the validated Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Social Isolation Form 8a.The PROMIS Social Isolation 8a short form is a 8-item, self-report tool measuring perceived loneliness and detachment from others. It uses a 5-point Likert scale (1=Never to 5=Always) to assess feelings of being avoided, excluded, or disconnected.
Measured: Baseline
Social isolation
Social isolation will be measured by the validated Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Social Isolation Form 8a.The PROMIS Social Isolation 8a short form is a 8-item, self-report tool measuring perceived loneliness and detachment from others. It uses a 5-point Likert scale (1=Never to 5=Always) to assess feelings of being avoided, excluded, or disconnected.
Measured: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Mar 2026
- Study start14 Apr 2026
- Primary completion13 May 2026
- Study completion4 Sep 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for CommunicationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Milton S. Hershey Medical CenterThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- 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
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 11 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Pooja Rao, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
- Investigators
- Pooja Rao, MD MSCE, Principal investigator, Penn State College of Medicine
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07454460
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 28236
- Status last verified
- Nov 2026
- First submitted
- 2 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 3 Nov 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Aggregate participant data that underlie the results reported in the study, after de-identification.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Nov 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- AYA-PeerConnect: A Communication Coaching Intervention for Adolescent/Young Adult Cancer Survivors (AYACS)
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07454460
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 28236
- Conditions
- Communication, Anxiety, Depression, Social Isolation
- Keywords
- Communication, Anxiety, Depression, Social Isolation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 11 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Milton S. Hershey Medical CenterUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 14 Apr 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 13 May 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 4 Sep 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 Mar 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 research is being done to test a communication coaching intervention pilot designed to improve communication quality between adolescent/young adult cancer survivors (AYACS) and their friends/peers. The results of the study will help to understand how to best support adolescent/young adult cancer survivors, and may inform the development or future implementation of similar programs for cancer survivor populations.
Detailed description
This study is being done to test a communication coaching intervention designed to improve communication quality between adolescent/young adult cancer survivors (AYACS) and their friends/peers. The results of the study will help to understand how to best support adolescent/young adult cancer survivors, and may inform the development or future implementation of similar programs for cancer survivor populations.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous coaching and artificial intelligence (AI) Yoodli coach sessions | Experimental | Behavioral: Asynchronous coaching and artificial intelligence (AI) Yoodli coach sessionsThe intervention will use a combination of asynchronous communication coaching sessions, and AI Yoodli coach sessions. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 35 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Participant is currently ≥18-35 years old
- Participant is receiving cancer-directed care at Penn State Cancer Institute or Penn State Children's Hospital
- Participant has completed all cancer-directed therapy and is at least 1 year from end of cancer treatment (based on date of last cancer-directed treatment)
- Participant has access to a computer with internet capability
- Participant is fluent in written and spoken English
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Participant is not fluent in written and spoken English
- Participant with cognitive inability to participant in the study as determined by the study team
- Participants with history of relapsed cancer
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Asynchronous coaching and artificial intelligence (AI) Yoodli coach sessionsParticipants will complete asynchronous individual sessions for Visits 2-4. Each visit will include a 60-minute interactive didactic session using Rise 360 software, with a 20-minute Yoodli AI coaching session (both Rise 360 and Yoodli will be accessed via website). Rise 360 sessions will cover topics related to communication style, multiple goals theory and how to apply concepts learned in being good communicators. Yoodli AI coaching session will be completed for the corresponding Rise 360 session before moving to the next visit's session. The 20-minute Yoodli AI coaching sessions will include coaching from the Yoodli AI coach and practicing various peer conversation situations. These sessions will consolidate and reinforce concepts learned in the didactic sessions. The Yoodli AI coach is programmed with input on relationship style (a communication tool to assess communication style) to deliver personalized coaching. | Behavioural | Asynchronous coaching and artificial intelligence (AI) Yoodli coach sessions |
Primary outcome
Intervention Feasibility (Quantitative)
Time frame: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Quantitative feasibility will be collected based on visit attendance.
Intervention Feasibility (Qualitative)
Time frame: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Qualitative feasibility data will be collected from post-module mixed methods assessments, and exit interviews and focus groups.
Intervention Acceptability (Quantitative)
Time frame: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Quantitative acceptability will be collected using an acceptability questionnaire. Quantitative acceptability will be integrated with qualitative data from post-module mixed methods assessments, and exit interviews and focus groups to understand intervention acceptability.
Intervention Acceptability (Qualitative)
Time frame: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Qualitative acceptability data will be collected from post-module mixed methods assessments, and exit interviews and focus groups.
Communication quality Multiple Goals Score
Time frame: Baseline
Rating process for communication quality analysis (CQA) domains. A domain score is calculated for each of the six communication quality domains (content, emotion, accommodation, engagement, relationship, and face). Using the emotion domain as an example, the neutral score is assigned as a "1," and as participants express emotion (as per the definition above and further detailed in the CQA codebook) the score increases with the highest quality score being "7". A domain score is assigned every five minutes for each of the six domains. The full range for each measure is 6 (most neutral)-42 (highest quality).
Communication quality Multiple Goals Score
Time frame: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Rating process for communication quality analysis (CQA) domains. A domain score is calculated for each of the six communication quality domains (content, emotion, accommodation, engagement, relationship, and face). Using the emotion domain as an example, the neutral score is assigned as a "1," and as participants express emotion (as per the definition above and further detailed in the CQA codebook) the score increases with the highest quality score being "7". A domain score is assigned every five minutes for each of the six domains. The full range for each measure is 6 (most neutral)-42 (highest quality).
6 secondary outcomes
Anxiety
Time frame: Baseline
Anxiety
Time frame: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Depression
Time frame: Baseline
Depression
Time frame: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Social isolation
Time frame: Baseline
Social isolation
Time frame: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Nov 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Aggregate participant data that underlie the results reported in the study, after de-identification.
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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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Pooja Rao, MD MSCE principal investigator
Penn State College of Medicine
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Asynchronous coaching and artificial intelligence (AI) Yoodli coach sessions in people with Communication and Anxiety, run by Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at 1 site in United States.
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 5 inclusion and 3 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: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Nov 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Intervention Feasibility (Quantitative) (time frame: Post intervention follow up visit (Up to a month)). The study lists 6 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 3 Nov 2026.