UnknownNot Applicable

Prospective Cohort Follow-up of French Patients With Profound and Multiple Disabilities: Healthcare Pathways and Quality of Life Among Patients and Their Families

France1,200 participantsStarted 2015-02

Plain-language summary

The studies conducted so far concerning the medical and paramedical cares provided to patients with profound and multiple disabilities (PMD) often show important limitations: samples are too small or very heterogeneous, generally constituted of children only; studies are mainly cross-sectional and retrospective, focusing on very specific issues instead of assessing health and quality of life from a more global perspective… So far, the investigators found no published data from a prospective cohort study involving a representative sample of patients with PMD. The present project aims to set up such a cohort so as to describe for the first time the natural history of French patients with PMD as well as the cares they receive at home or within the different dedicated structures in France. This cohort will also make it possible to identify the factors responsible for differences in the cares patients are provided, the consequences of these differences on their health and their quality of life (and those of their relatives) as well as the evolutions of these data over time. It will then allow for assessing the effectiveness of the French healthcare system to care for patients with PMD as well as building a frame of reference regarding the best cares to provide to these patients. The primary goal of this study is to identify the determinants of health among patients with PMD.

Who can participate

Age range

3 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * age \> 3 years old, * patient with health insurance, * causal brain injury before the age of 3, * Intellectual Quotient \< 40 or not assessable, * motor disability: paraparesis, tetraparesis, hemiparesis, ataxia, neuromuscular disorders, or extrapyramidal motor disorders, * score at the Gross Motor Function Classification System \> 3, * score at the Functional Independence Measure \< 55. Exclusion Criteria: Subject declaring benefit "psychotropic treatment which" significantly alter the reasoning, discernment or judgment.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Caregivers quality of life

Timeframe: 36 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT02400528

SponsorAssistance Publique Hopitaux De Marseille

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2018-02

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