Smart Symptom Tracking ALEX Application for Tracking and Monitoring Gastrointestinal Health, Smart Horizons Pilot Trial

Purpose

This clinical trial compares the impact of the Smart Symptom Tracking ALEX application (app) to standard symptom-tracking practices in tracking and monitoring gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in young adults. Rates of early-onset colorectal cancer are rising sharply and it is projected to become the leading cause of cancer-related death in young adults. Despite this, adults under 45 still face barriers to diagnosis, including access to screening, unclear guidance on the impact of GI symptoms and dismissal of symptoms by healthcare providers. Current screening guidelines lack guidance on monitoring early symptoms in younger adults. The Smart Symptom Tracking ALEX tool is a digital platform that uses artificial intelligence to provide prompts for symptoms, coaching, reminders and education. Standard of care clinical practices include paper-based logs to report symptoms. Using the Smart Symptom Tracking ALEX app may provide more detailed symptom reports and increase self-reported symptom communication compared to standard symptom-tracking practices in young adults concerned about their GI health.