RecruitingNot Applicable

Cerebrovascular Disease: Quality of Life (CODE: QoL)

Switzerland680 participantsStarted 2023-05-27

Plain-language summary

The goal of this observational study is to learn about quality of life, stress and caregiver burden in patients with stroke and their caregivers. The main question is: • to discover the factors associated with quality of life and stress in patient-caregiver dyads. Participants will be asked to fill out questionnaires and agree to provide a hair sample (in order to measure stress hormones in hair) and consent to use of their routine clinical and laboratory data. Researchers will compare a group of participants without stroke to establish a comparable baseline.

Who can participate

Age range

18 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.

Control group: Inclusion criteria: * over 18 years old * No previous stroke OR previous stroke \>3 years ago * No significant disability (maximum mRS 1) * ambulatory patients at the University Hospital of Zurich (USZ), Dept. of Neurology * Patients' AND caregiver's ability to give informed consent * Patients' AND close relative's / caregiver's willingness to participate Exclusion criteria: • Medication with steroid hormones (prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone etc.) within last 3 months Main Group: Inclusion criteria: * over 18 years old * Patients diagnosed with either transient ischemic attack, ischemic stroke or intracerebral hemorrhage and their caregivers * Caregiver of a patient as described above, age over 18 years * Hospitalized or ambulatory patients at the University Hospital of Zurich (USZ) included within 28 days from event. * Patients' AND caregiver's ability to give informed consent * Patients' AND caregiver's willingness to participate Exclusion criteria: • Medication with steroid hormones (prednisone, prednisolone, dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone etc.) within last 3 months

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

Quality of Life as assessed via Short Form - 36 (SF-36)

Timeframe: caregivers and patients at 0, 3 and 12 months after cerebrovascular event.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06443268

SponsorUniversity of Zurich

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2028-04-30

Contact for this trial

Anton Schmick, MD

+41442551111 anton.schmick@usz.ch

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Quality of Life trials