Trial Outcomes & Findings for Reducing Burden in Care Partners of Community-Dwelling Persons With Dementia and Oropharyngeal Dysphagia (NCT NCT06557863)

NCT ID: NCT06557863

Last Updated: 2026-06-01

Results Overview

Burden will be measured using the Zarit Burden Scale (ZBI-22), a validated measure that assesses 22 statements related to personal strain accompanying caring for another person, which is rated with 5 frequency-related response categories, scored 0 (never) to 4 (nearly always). The total score ranges between 0 and 88 (higher scores indicating higher burden). A score less than 21 has been suggested to indicate care-partner burden. Outcome measures will be captured through a link to an online questionnaire which will be sent to the care partner's smart phone/device via text message.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

80 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

3 months post hospital discharge

Results posted on

2026-06-01

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Enhanced Control + WeCareToFeedDysphagia
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care. Participants will also receive access to the WeCareToFeedDysphagia web tool and receive text message reminders to use the tool.
Enhanced Control
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care.
Overall Study
STARTED
40
40
Overall Study
Baseline
36
38
Overall Study
1 Month Post Discharge
34
36
Overall Study
COMPLETED
31
34
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
9
6

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Enhanced Control + WeCareToFeedDysphagia
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care. Participants will also receive access to the WeCareToFeedDysphagia web tool and receive text message reminders to use the tool.
Enhanced Control
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care.
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
7
4
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
2
2

Baseline Characteristics

8 participants missing age data.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Enhanced Control + WeCareToFeedDysphagia
n=36 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care. Participants will also receive access to the WeCareToFeedDysphagia web tool and receive text message reminders to use the tool.
Enhanced Control
n=38 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care.
Total
n=74 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race · Unknown or Not Reported
3 Participants
n=36 Participants
7 Participants
n=38 Participants
10 Participants
n=74 Participants
Age, Continuous
55.8 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.6 • n=34 Participants • 8 participants missing age data.
53.6 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.8 • n=32 Participants • 8 participants missing age data.
54.7 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.8 • n=66 Participants • 8 participants missing age data.
Sex/Gender, Customized
Sex · Female
27 Participants
n=36 Participants
24 Participants
n=38 Participants
51 Participants
n=74 Participants
Sex/Gender, Customized
Sex · Male
7 Participants
n=36 Participants
10 Participants
n=38 Participants
17 Participants
n=74 Participants
Sex/Gender, Customized
Sex · Missing
2 Participants
n=36 Participants
4 Participants
n=38 Participants
6 Participants
n=74 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants
n=36 Participants
9 Participants
n=38 Participants
10 Participants
n=74 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
31 Participants
n=36 Participants
21 Participants
n=38 Participants
52 Participants
n=74 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
4 Participants
n=36 Participants
8 Participants
n=38 Participants
12 Participants
n=74 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race · White
20 Participants
n=36 Participants
19 Participants
n=38 Participants
39 Participants
n=74 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race · Black or African American
6 Participants
n=36 Participants
9 Participants
n=38 Participants
15 Participants
n=74 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race · Asian
4 Participants
n=36 Participants
0 Participants
n=38 Participants
4 Participants
n=74 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race · More than one race
1 Participants
n=36 Participants
1 Participants
n=38 Participants
2 Participants
n=74 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Race · Other
2 Participants
n=36 Participants
2 Participants
n=38 Participants
4 Participants
n=74 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 months post hospital discharge

Population: 65 participants were actively enrolled at 3 months post discharge. 11 participants were lost to baseline prior to 3 months. 4 participants were withdrawn prior to 3 months.

Burden will be measured using the Zarit Burden Scale (ZBI-22), a validated measure that assesses 22 statements related to personal strain accompanying caring for another person, which is rated with 5 frequency-related response categories, scored 0 (never) to 4 (nearly always). The total score ranges between 0 and 88 (higher scores indicating higher burden). A score less than 21 has been suggested to indicate care-partner burden. Outcome measures will be captured through a link to an online questionnaire which will be sent to the care partner's smart phone/device via text message.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Enhanced Control
n=34 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care.
Enhanced Control + WeCareToFeedDysphagia
n=31 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care. Participants will also receive access to the WeCareToFeedDysphagia web tool and receive text message reminders to use the tool.
Mean Care Partner Burden at 3 Months Post Hospital Discharge
42.8 ZBI Score
Standard Deviation 17.2
41.3 ZBI Score
Standard Deviation 13.9

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 1 Month Post Hospital Discharge

Population: 70 participants were actively enrolled at 1 month post discharge. 7 participants were lost to follow up prior to 1 month. 3 participants were withdrawn prior to 1 month. Of the 70 actively enrolled participants, 4 are missing care partner burden data at 1 month post discharge.

Burden will be measured using the Zarit Burden Scale (ZBI-22), a validated measure that assesses 22 statements related to personal strain accompanying caring for another person, which is rated with 5 frequency-related response categories, scored 0 (never) to 4 (nearly always). The total score ranges between 0 and 88 (higher scores indicating higher burden). A score less than 21 has been suggested to indicate care-partner burden. Outcome measures will be captured through a link to an online questionnaire which will be sent to the care partner's smart phone/device via text message.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Enhanced Control
n=33 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care.
Enhanced Control + WeCareToFeedDysphagia
n=33 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care. Participants will also receive access to the WeCareToFeedDysphagia web tool and receive text message reminders to use the tool.
Mean Care Partner Burden at 1 Month Post Hospital Discharge
43.7 ZBI Score
Standard Deviation 14.5
41.7 ZBI Score
Standard Deviation 12.4

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 1 Month Post Hospital Discharge

Population: 70 participants were actively enrolled at 1 month post discharge. 7 participants were lost to follow up prior to 1 month. 3 participants were withdrawn prior to 1 month. Of the 70 actively enrolled participants, 5 are missing care partner quality of life data at 1 month post discharge.

Care Partner Quality of Life (CarerQol) will be measured using the validated Care-Related Qol-7D. The Care-Related Qol-7D measures well-being (CarerQol-VAS or visual analog scale) and subjective burden. The CarerQol-VAS measures happiness, using endpoints between 'completely unhappy' (0) and 'completely happy' (10). Subjective burden is measured on 7 dimensions (fulfillment, relational problems, mental health, daily activities problems, physical health, and support), and rated as (i) no, (ii) some, and (iii) a lot. The weighted score ranges from 0-100 (worst to best caregiving situation). Higher scores indicate higher quality of life. Outcome measures will be captured through a link to an online questionnaire which will be sent to the care partner's smart phone/device via text message.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Enhanced Control
n=33 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care.
Enhanced Control + WeCareToFeedDysphagia
n=32 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care. Participants will also receive access to the WeCareToFeedDysphagia web tool and receive text message reminders to use the tool.
Mean Care Partner Quality of Life at 1 Month Post Hospital Discharge
54.8 CareQol Score
Standard Deviation 13.7
53.9 CareQol Score
Standard Deviation 16.8

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 Months Post Hospital Discharge

Population: 65 participants were actively enrolled at 3 months post discharge. 11 participants were lost to baseline prior to 3 months. 4 participants were withdrawn prior to 3 months. Of the 65 actively enrolled participants, 2 are missing care partner quality of life data at 3 months post discharge.

Care Partner Quality of Life (CarerQol) will be measured using the validated Care-Related Qol-7D. The Care-Related Qol-7D measures well-being (CarerQol-VAS or visual analog scale) and subjective burden. The CarerQol-VAS measures happiness, using endpoints between 'completely unhappy' (0) and 'completely happy' (10). Subjective burden is measured on 7 dimensions (fulfillment, relational problems, mental health, daily activities problems, physical health, and support), and rated as (i) no, (ii) some, and (iii) a lot. The weighted score ranges from 0-100 (worst to best caregiving situation). Higher scores indicate higher quality of life. Outcome measures will be captured through a link to an online questionnaire which will be sent to the care partner's smart phone/device via text message.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Enhanced Control
n=32 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care.
Enhanced Control + WeCareToFeedDysphagia
n=31 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care. Participants will also receive access to the WeCareToFeedDysphagia web tool and receive text message reminders to use the tool.
Mean Care Partner Quality of Life at 3 Months Post Hospital Discharge
52.7 CareQol Score
Standard Deviation 16.7
57.7 CareQol Score
Standard Deviation 12.5

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 Months Post Hospital Discharge

Engagement with WeCareToFeedDysphagia will be defined as percent of care partners viewing 2 or more pages within the tool. Success will be defined as greater than or equal to 45% of care partners engaging with the tool. Data will be captured via Google Analytics data to assess program usage in the domains of time/date of login, duration of page views, and document downloaded Engagement with the tool will be reported for the intervention arm only.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Enhanced Control
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care.
Enhanced Control + WeCareToFeedDysphagia
n=40 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care. Participants will also receive access to the WeCareToFeedDysphagia web tool and receive text message reminders to use the tool.
Percent Engagement With the WeCareToFeedDysphagia Tool
21 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Study completion, up to 1 year

Population: A total of 164 participants were eligible and approached for consent. Of the 164 eligible participants, 80 (48.78%) participants officially consented and enrolled in the research study.

Percent consented will be calculated as care partners consented over eligible and approached. Success will be defined as greater than or equal to 40% of care partners approached will volunteer to enroll in the study.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Enhanced Control
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care.
Enhanced Control + WeCareToFeedDysphagia
n=164 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care. Participants will also receive access to the WeCareToFeedDysphagia web tool and receive text message reminders to use the tool.
Percent Consented in Pilot Study
Number of Participants Officially Consented
80 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 1 Month Post Hospital Discharge.

Percent attrition will be calculated as the total number of consented participants who did not complete the 1 month assessment over the total number of consented participants. Success will be defined as less than or equal to 30% attrition at 1 month post hospital discharge.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Enhanced Control
n=40 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care.
Enhanced Control + WeCareToFeedDysphagia
n=40 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care. Participants will also receive access to the WeCareToFeedDysphagia web tool and receive text message reminders to use the tool.
Percent Care Partner Attrition at 1 Month Post Hospital Discharge
4 Participants
6 Participants

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 3 Months Post Hospital Discharge.

Percent attrition will be calculated as the total number of consented participants who did not complete the 3 month assessment over the total number of consented participants. Success will be defined as less than or equal to 30% attrition at 3 months post hospital discharge.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Enhanced Control
n=40 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care.
Enhanced Control + WeCareToFeedDysphagia
n=40 Participants
Participants receive usual care from their medical team and receive contact information for speech-language pathology follow-up care. Participants will also receive access to the WeCareToFeedDysphagia web tool and receive text message reminders to use the tool.
Percent Care Partner Attrition at 3 Months Post Hospital Discharge
6 Participants
9 Participants

Adverse Events

Enhanced Control + WeCareToFeedDysphagia

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Enhanced Control

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Dr. Liron Sinvani, Principal Investigator

Northwell Health

Phone: 516-562-2945

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place