Assessment, Intervention and Measurement (AIM) Core
Director: Susan Peterson, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Co-Director: Karen Basen-Engquist, Ph.D., M.P.H.
The Assessment, Intervention and Measurement (AIM) core is a shared resource that provides expertise in the science of collecting and managing patient-reported outcome (PRO) data, conducting assessments and interventions in energy balance research, and conducting behavioral assessment and intervention development utilizing web, mobile, and other technology applications.
The AIM Core provides expertise in:
- the science of collecting and managing patient-reported outcome data, including that collected with surveys, web applications, and mobile applications.
- energy balance research, including the assessment of diet, physical activity, and physical functioning, and in the delivery of physical activity interventions.
- the development and implementation of mobile, web, and sensor applications for behavioral assessment and intervention.
Getting Started
Consultations may be initiated by emailing AIMSharedResource@mdanderson.org or calling 713-745-6333.
Initial consultations usually consist of a brief meeting to discuss the investigator's needs and the type of services he or she requires. The Core manager, in consultation with other AIM staff, then prepares an estimate of the effort and personnel costs involved. The investigator is provided with a service proposal that must be signed before the start of any work. Issues considered when determining the level of staff and percent effort required are as follows:
- Research needed to determine the appropriate assessment tools
- Number of questionnaires to be administered and the length of each of these questionnaires
- Total patient accrual and data collection procedures
- Database development needs
- Data entry requirements
- Data support for analysis
DID YOU KNOW?
Research Partnerships
This facility is funded by NCI # CA016672. Publications should cite the Core grant in the acknowledgment section, if publications use data generated with the assistance of the Core facility. Two copies of the publication acknowledging the Core grant should also be submitted to the AIM Core, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1330, Houston, TX, 77030.
Spotlight On Our Impact
Patient-reported outcome (PRO) questionnaire for a quality of life study
Acute and short-term toxic effects of conventionally fractionated vs. hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation
Shaitelman S. et al. JAMA Oncol. 2015 Oct;1(7):931-41.
Benjamin Smith (Breast Cancer; Radiation Oncology, Physics & Biology); Inter-programmatic (CP, CBMP)
Application: Randomized trial assessed 6-month quality of life (QOL) and toxic effects for conventionally fractionated vs. hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation (CF-WBI vs. HF-WBI)
Major Findings:
- Patients randomized to HF-WBI reported less lack of energy and less trouble meeting family needs 6 months after treatment
- No QOL parameters were worse with HF-WBI compared to CF-WBI
Implications: First study to prospectively evaluate lack of energy before and after radiation treatment. QOL benefits of HF-WBI are relevant to patients when making treatment decisions.
AIM’s Role: Survey and protocol development
Mobile messaging for smoking cessation
A randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of an interactive mobile messaging intervention for underserved smokers: Project ACTION
Vidrine, D. et al. BCM Public Health. 2012 Aug; 12:696.
Alexander Prokhorov (Cancer Prevention, Lung Cancer)
Application: Evaluated an interactive mobile messaging system to reach and deliver smoking cessation treatment to underserved, low-income communities
Study Design:
Community sites randomized to:
- standard care (brief advice to quit smoking, nicotine replacement therapy, self-help materials)
- enhanced care (mobile text & graphical messaging + standard care)
- enhanced care + mobile telephone counseling sessions
Implications: Using mobile health technology plus community outreach will increase availability and efficacy of tobacco treatment services for smokers in underserved communities with limited transportation, health insurance, and access to traditional health care facilities
AIM’s Role: SMS/MMS (picture message) messaging system for smoking cessation, database design smoking
Longitudinal exercise assessment of cancer survivors
Antecedents and mediators of physical activity in endometrial cancer survivors: Increasing physical activity through Steps to Health
Cox M. et al. Health Psychol. 2015 Oct;34(10):1022-32
Karen Basen-Engquist (Breast Cancer, Gynecological Cancers, Cancer Prevention)
Application: Examined the longitudinal relationship between theoretical antecedents of physical activity (PA) in endometrial cancer survivors receiving an intervention to increase exercise levels.
Major Findings:
- As physiological somatic sensations decreased over time, PA self-efficacy increased, which led to an increase in PA
- Self-efficacy was a significant mediator between physiological somatic sensations and PA
Implications: Targeting physiological sensations by normalizing negative sensations and encouraging continuance of PA may improve interventions to increase exercise in cancer survivors
AIM’s Role: Anthropometric & fitness assessments, survey & database development, dataset preparation