# The SPARC App:  A Smartphone Application for the Management of Sarcoidosis-Associated Fatigue

> **NIH NIH R21** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2020 · $225,750

## Abstract

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous inflammatory disease that disproportionately affects African
Americans in the United States. Sarcoidosis associated fatigue (SAF) is reported by 80% of sarcoidosis
patients (SPs) and is considered the most important predictor of quality of life (QoL) due to its negative effects
on physical and psychological health. SPs experience significant stress, which has a strong association with
increased fatigue and low quality of life. Mobile health technology-based (mHealth) stress management
techniques including breathing awareness meditation (BAM) have been shown to reduce stress and fatigue
and improve QoL in other chronic diseases. Besides our proof of concept trial, there have been no randomized
controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating theory driven, tailored mHealth applications addressing SAF. In response to
PA-18-389, the proposed R21will refine and test the Sarcoidosis Patient Assessment and Resource
Companion (SPARC) app. SPARC includes multi-level components: 1) immediate physiological feedback of
heart rate changes during BAM sessions, 2) objective indicator of BAM adherence via timestamp of heart rate
data ,3) tailored text message delivered motivational feedback and reinforcement guided by self-determination
theory and based upon adherence to daily BAM sessions, 4) healthcare provider & tech service phone access
links and 5) automated summary reports to providers. The aims are as follows:
Aim 1: Develop and refine the SPARC App to assist SPs in coping with stress & SAF using BAM via further
adaptation of Tension Tamer app (HL114957) using focus groups and post refinement lab based usability
evaluations.
Aim 2: Conduct a 12 week, 2-arm (SPARC vs. enhanced Standard Care) feasibility RCT in 50 SPs with SAF.
Evaluations will occur at baseline, weeks 4 &12 and a post-trial follow-up at week 24.
2a: Primary outcomes of feasibility benchmarks: ≥ 80% recruitment, ≥80 % retention rates & usability; ≥.70
adherence to twice daily BAM sessions; ≥ 75 % of sample will score above average on usability & satisfaction
questionnaires (SUS >68, uMARS >64& TSUQ >60).
2b: Secondary outcomes of changes in SAF, self-efficacy, stress, autonomous motivation, and QoL.
Aim 3: Conduct focus groups after the SPARC trial with providers and staff (n=6-8) and with a random sample
of SPARC users (n=12) to assess key user reactions including perceived acceptability, usability, salience, and
identify sustainability facilitators/barriers. Triangulate data from AIMS 2 & 3 to further refine and optimize
SPARC and prepare for a full-scale efficacy RCT.
Long-term objective is to develop practical, effective and sustainable mHealth program for SAF.
Dissemination of the SPARC App will help ameliorate the burden of SAF, decrease healthcare disparities, and
improve QoL in SPs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9823371
- **Project number:** 1R21EB025525-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** Walter Ennis James
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $225,750
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9823371

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9823371, The SPARC App:  A Smartphone Application for the Management of Sarcoidosis-Associated Fatigue (1R21EB025525-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9823371. Licensed CC0.

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