New tool helps kids with cancer speak up about symptoms

NCT ID NCT04614662

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: The Hospital for Sick Children Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether having children with cancer report their symptoms three times a week using a web-based tool (SPARK) could improve their quality of life. The tool alerted healthcare providers and linked to care pathways for managing symptoms. A total of 445 children aged 8–18 from 20 hospitals took part. The goal was to reduce symptom burden and fatigue.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: Symptom screening and care pathway tool (SPARK)
What this could lead to: If it works, this approach could help children with cancer feel better during treatment by catching and managing symptoms early.
What could go wrong: This is a completed trial, so results are available but may not show a big improvement. The tool only helps with symptoms, not the cancer itself.

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

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

childhood malignant neoplasm neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

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

PEDIATRIC CANCER QUALITY OF LIFE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Children's Hospital

New Orleans, Louisiana, 70118, United States
Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, 90027-6062, United States
Connecticut Children's Medical Center

Hartford, Connecticut, 06106, United States
Driscoll Children's Hospital

Corpus Christi, Texas, 78411, United States
Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children

Honolulu, Hawaii, 96826, United States
Nemours Children's Health, Jacksonville

Jacksonville, Florida, 32207, United States
Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware

Wilmington, Delaware, 19803, United States
Nemours Children's Hospital, Florida

Orlando, Florida, 32827, United States
Phoenix Children's Hospital

Phoenix, Arizona, 85016-7710, United States
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Buffalo, New York, 14203, United States
The Hospital for Sick Children

Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X8, Canada
The Leland Stanford Junior University

Redwood City, California, 94305-2004, United States
The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, New York, 10032, United States
The University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, United States
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

San Antonio, Texas, 78229-3901, United States
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Unity Point Health - Blank Children's Hospital

Des Moines, Iowa, 50309, United States
University of Colorado Denver

Aurora, Colorado, 80045-2571, United States
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37203-1161, United States
Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia, 23298-0568, United States
Washington University School of Medicine

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

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