Clinical trials

Sleep disorders are common among older people. People who suffer from sleep disorders typically have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, wake up early and do not get restful sleep. Research on sleep disorders in humans is already underway. Previous research projects in humans have shown that sleep disorders have an impact on bodily functions and quality of life. Disruptions to the sleep-wake cycle can also affect memory. Previous research projects have examined the measurement differences between polysomnography, an overnight sleep measurement in a sleep laboratory, which is currently the gold standard, and various contactless sleep sensor systems. The measurement differences are minor to moderate. However, the investigators do not yet know how large the difference is between different days when using contactless sleep sensor systems in order to determine the accuracy of such devices for residents in retirement and nursing homes. In this research project, the investigator are therefore investigating sleep variability over a period of 14 days in 52 residents of retirement and nursing homes in Switzerland in order to be able to assess the smallest detectable difference in sleep quality. The investigators are conducting this research project in accordance with Swiss law. The investigators also comply with all internationally recognized guidelines. The responsible ethics committee has reviewed and approved the research project.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a global burden. Treatment options have improved in recent years, pulmonary rehabilitation plays a key role. Oxygen therapy is recommended in patients with a low saturation at rest, but no clear guidance is given for patients who desaturate during exercise. The effect of ambulatory oxygen during exercise is not yet completely understood, especially in those patients with exercise-induced desaturation. Aim: Evaluate the effect of supplemental oxygen therapy during a 3-months long ambulatory pulmonary rehabilitation program on exercise endurance. Patients will either receive supplemental oxygen therapy or room air during exercise training. Methods: A total of 32 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COPD undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation will be included (male and female : aged ≥ 18 years; stable condition \&gt; 3 weeks (e.g. no exacerbations); resting oxygen saturation (SpO2) ≥ 88% and exercise induced hypoxemia defined by a fall in SpO2 by ≥ 4% and/ or below 90% during a 6-minute walking test). 3-months comprehensive PR for both intervention and control group including: education and awareness, instruction on inhalation therapies, smoking cessation counselling, respiratory and skeletal muscle training in groups, guided walks / cycle ergometer training. The intervention group will be trained using SSOT and the control group will receive sham air (ambient air). Patients and assessors will be blinded. Between group difference in cycling constant work rate exercise test (CWRET) time from baseline to 3 months SSOT (5l/min) vs ambient air will be the primary outcome of this study. Data will be summarized by means (SD) and medians (quartiles) for normal and non-normal distributions. Effects of treatment will be evaluated by mean differences with 95% confidence intervals, T-tests or Wilcoxon matched pair tests as appropriate. A p-value threshold of \<0.05 or a confidence interval not including zero will be considered as statistically significant. Analyses will be performed according to the intention to treat principle.

This observational study investigates the wellbeing of parents in German-speaking Switzerland in everyday contexts using smartphone-based Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). Family caregiving can be both rewarding and burdensome, yet little is known about how parental wellbeing fluctuates in daily life and across caregiving situations. The study aims to examine momentary subjective wellbeing, caregiving activities, and contextual factors in natural settings. Participants complete repeated real-time assessments via a digital diary application five times a day over a 14-day study period. The study seeks to characterize within-person variability in parental wellbeing and identify contextual factors associated with positive and negative daily experiences.

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn, if the video-based exercise program "Bliib fit - mach mit!" can be used to improve physical fitness in older adults living in residential care facilities. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does the video-based exercise program improve participants' physical fitness? Does the video-based exercise program improve participants' quality of life, perceived fall risk, self-efficacy and daily physical activity levels? Researchers will compare this exercise program to an optimized standard care activation program (caregiver-led) to see if the video-based program can affect physical fitness in older adults living in residential care facilities. Participants will participate in the exercise or activation program for 12 weeks, four times a week, with each session lasting 20 minutes.

This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluates the effect of a 12 weeks exergaming training in people with major neurocognitive disorders (MNCD) living in long-term care facilities.