Chatbot 'Penny' aims to reconnect cancer survivors with life-saving follow-up care

NCT ID NCT05863702

Completed Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tested a chatbot named Penny that sends text messages to help adult survivors of childhood or young adult cancers schedule follow-up appointments, lab work, and scans. The goal was to see if survivors who had not been to a clinic in over three years would use the chatbot to reengage with care. Fifty-three survivors participated, and researchers tracked how many scheduled and kept their appointments over 16 weeks.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: chatbot (Penny)
What this could lead to: If successful, this chatbot could help more cancer survivors get the long-term follow-up care they need, potentially improving their health outcomes.
What could go wrong: This is a small feasibility study with only 53 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The chatbot relies on text messaging, which may not work for all survivors.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Get updates

Get notified about this study

Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for CHILDHOOD CANCER are added.

Our safety recommendation!

By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

childhood malignant neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

SURVIVORSHIP

Contacts and locations

Locations

Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

More trials for these conditions

Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.