Caregiver Stress and Bereavement

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF ZURICH · May 10, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial, titled "Caregiver Stress and Bereavement," is studying the impact of losing a spouse on health, particularly for those who have been primary caregivers for patients with terminal illnesses like cancer. Researchers want to understand how different people cope with this loss, both emotionally and physically, by looking at factors like stress levels and certain biological markers in the body. The goal is to identify individuals who may be at higher risk for health problems after their loss, which can help in developing better support and treatments for bereaved spouses.

To participate in this study, individuals must be at least 18 years old and have been the primary caregiver for a spouse with a terminal illness. They should be able to communicate in German and provide consent to join the study. Participants will be asked to share their experiences and may undergo assessments related to their emotional and physical health over time. This trial is currently recruiting, and it's important for potential participants to know that certain health conditions or medications may prevent them from being eligible.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Participant age ≥ 18 years
• • Caregiver or spouse of a patients suffering from a terminal illness (estimated life expectancy ≤ 6 months),
• • regarded as the patients primary caregiver (i.e., intimately involved in care of the patient since time of the diagnosis, looking after his/her daily needs, supervising the medications, bringing the patient to the hospital, staying with the patient during inpatient stay, and maintaining liaison with the hospital staff),
• • German as primary language
• • signed informed consent.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Significant visual or auditory problems, cognitive impairment,
• • morbid obesity (body mass index ≥40 kg/m2,
• • alcohol or drug abuse
• • active malignancy
• • severe illness (respiratory, heart, liver and renal failure)
• • major medical conditions involving the immune system (e.g., diabetes type 1 or 2, autoimmune and/ or inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis and ulcerative colitis, asthma, thyroid diseases)
• • severe hypertension (\>200/120 mmHg)
• • regular use of medication with major immunological consequences (e.g., corticosteroids, immunosuppressive therapy)
• • pregnant or breast-feeding