RecruitingNot Applicable

Mobile Health Application for Family Caregivers in Home Palliative Care

Turkey (Türkiye)120 participantsStarted 2026-06-10

Plain-language summary

Family caregivers play a central role in providing daily care for patients receiving home palliative care. However, caregiving responsibilities may lead to increased burden, stress, and difficulties in symptom management and care coordination. Mobile health (mHealth) interventions may provide accessible education, symptom monitoring, and decision-support resources to improve caregiver outcomes and patient care. The aim of this randomized controlled trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile health application developed for family caregivers of patients receiving home palliative care. The primary outcome is caregiver competence. Secondary outcomes include caregiver burden, self-efficacy, patient symptom burden, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. A total of 120 family caregivers will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group, which will use the mobile health application for 6 weeks in addition to usual care, or the control group, which will receive usual care alone. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, post-intervention (Week 6), and follow-up (Week 18).

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.

Inclusion Criteria: * Family caregiver of a patient receiving home palliative care services. * Aged 18 years or older. * Providing unpaid care to the patient for at least 3 months. * Able to read and understand Turkish. * Owns or has regular access to a smartphone compatible with the mobile application. * Willing to participate and provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Professional or paid caregivers. * Participation in another structured caregiver support program during the study period. * Cognitive, visual, or hearing impairments that would prevent effective use of the mobile application. * Inability to complete study assessments. * Withdrawal of consent at any stage of the study.

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

Care Competency Scale for Family Caregivers in Home Palliative Care

Timeframe: Baseline, post-intervention at 6 weeks, and follow-up at 18 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07654998

SponsorKutahya Health Sciences University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-10-30

Contact for this trial

Serkan Budak, PhD / RN

+905385430616 serkan.budak@ksbu.edu.tr

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Palliative Care trials