DigiPall: digital symptom and wearable monitoring in palliative care
DigiPall; a Randomized Controlled Trial of Digital Patient Reported Outcome and Biomarker Monitoring in Palliative Care
This project will test whether a wearable that tracks heart rate and steps plus a daily smartphone chatbot that asks about symptoms and gives tips can reduce unplanned hospital readmissions and improve well‑being for people with advanced cancer or other life‑threatening illnesses in palliative care.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 382 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Zurich Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Zurich, Canton of Zurich) |
| Trial ID | NCT06615349 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The DigiPall approach combines a wrist-worn device that continuously records heart rate and steps with a smartphone chatbot that prompts daily patient-reported outcome questions and offers self-management tips. Adults receiving palliative care for advanced cancer or other severe illnesses who own a smartphone and meet basic functional criteria are enrolled and remotely monitored. Clinical teams access symptom reports and digital biomarker data to inform outpatient follow-up, with primary outcomes including unplanned hospital readmissions, quality of life, and sense of security. The trial is run at University Hospital Zurich with baseline visits and ongoing remote monitoring.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults with metastatic cancer or other severe life‑threatening illnesses in palliative care, with an estimated life expectancy of roughly 3 to 24 months, adequate functional status (Karnofsky ≥50%/ECOG ≤2), and regular smartphone use.
Not a fit: Patients receiving curative-intent treatment, those with significant cognitive impairment, without smartphone access, or with very limited life expectancy (under about three months) are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the system could reduce avoidable unplanned hospital readmissions, improve symptom control and quality of life, and increase patients' and caregivers' sense of security at home.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior oncology studies using remote patient-reported outcome monitoring have reduced emergency visits or readmissions, but combining continuous wearable biomarker tracking and chatbot-based daily PROMs specifically in palliative care is relatively novel and evidence is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients with established diagnosis of a metastatic cancer/severe illness with limited life expectancy receiving palliative care services * Estimated life expectancy \<24 months (physician's guess)/ \>3 months * Karnofsky Index ≥ 50% / ECOG≤ 2 * Aged \>18 years * Owns and uses a smartphone * Give written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Patients under curative treatment * Relevant cognitive impairment
Where this trial is running
Zurich, Canton of Zurich
- University Hospital Zurich — Zurich, Canton of Zurich, Switzerland (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: David Blum, MD PhD — University of Zurich
- Study coordinator: David Blum, MD PhD
- Email: david.blum@usz.ch
- Phone: 0041432533742
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.