Pedometer program aims to cut hospital stays for cancer patients

NCT ID NCT03102229

Disease control Sponsor: Montefiore Medical Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether tracking daily steps with a simple pedometer could help identify cancer patients at high risk of being hospitalized during chemoradiotherapy. 40 adults with head and neck, lung, esophageal, or stomach cancer wore a pedometer and received extra support like nutritionist visits if their step count dropped. The goal was to see if this real-time monitoring could reduce hospital admissions during or shortly after treatment.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: pedometer-based activity monitoring and enhanced supportive care
What this could lead to: If successful, this approach could help doctors spot early signs of trouble and reduce hospitalizations for cancer patients undergoing chemoradiotherapy.
What could go wrong: This was a small, early study with only 40 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The intervention relies on patients walking independently, which limits who can benefit.

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

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

40 people

The number who actually took part.

Start date

Jul 2016

Finished

Sep 2017

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age \> 18 * ECOG performance status 0-2 * Able to ambulate independently (without the assistance of a cane or walker) * Diagnosis of invasive malignancy of the head and neck region, lung, esophagus, or stomach * Planned treatment with fractionated (≥15 treatments) external beam radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy (or cetuximab) with curative intent (including preoperative or postoperative treatment) * Women of childbearing potential must: * Have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to the start of study therapy * Agree to utilize an adequate method of contraception throughout treatment and for at least 4 weeks after study therapy is completed * Be advised of the importance of avoiding pregnancy during trial participation and the potential risks of an unintentional pregnancy * All patients must sign study specific informed consent prior to study entry.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

esophageal cancer Esophageal Neoplasms gastric cancer gastric neoplasm head and neck cancer Head and Neck Neoplasms lung cancer lung carcinoma lung neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Cancer of esophagus Cancer of lung Cancer of stomach Cancer of the head and neck

Pedometer program aims to cut hospital stays for cancer patients

What the study statuses mean