Actively Recruiting
Digital Voice Analysis to Measure Frailty and Distress A Feasibility Study in Cancer Patients
Led by University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland · Updated on 2025-01-17
100
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
154 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating whether digital voice analysis can identify measurable changes in audio signals that relate to frailty and emotional distress in patients, especially those with cancer. Frailty is common in older adults and increases risks such as falls, disability, hospitalization, and death. Early detection of frailty and distress can improve patient care and treatment planning. This study aims to analyze changes over time by recording voice samples and clinical data multiple times from the same patients, allowing comparison of voice features with wellbeing changes. The study collects speech samples using a tablet with an app that records synchronized audio and video while patients describe freely chosen images. Each session involves describing two to four images with several sentences. Voice parameters like frequency, jitter, shimmer, and others will be extracted and analyzed alongside frailty assessments (G8 questionnaire) and distress measures (Distress Thermometer). Machine learning methods may be used to identify key voice features linked to frailty and distress. Participants will be adults with active cancer who can speak, read, and understand German. They will undergo repeated voice recordings and complete questionnaires about frailty and distress over a 16-week period. Researchers will monitor changes in various voice characteristics, verbal fluency, and word timing as primary outcomes. The study also includes clinical assessments and safety monitoring to evaluate the feasibility of using digital voice samples as indicators of patient wellbeing.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Digital Voice Analysis as a Measure of Frailty and Distress
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Active cancer or haemato-oncological malignancy
- Adults (≥ 18 years)
- Ability to understand, speak and read German language fluently
- Ability to provide written consent
- Sufficient or corrected vision to see the images
- Sufficient auditory comprehension for participation in the study based on the therapist's clinical opinion
- Ability to concentrate for 20-30 minutes based on the investigator's clinical opinion
- Signed informed consent to the study
You will not qualify if you...
- Aphonia, dysphonia or other obvious voice alterations of patient's voice
- Life-expectancy shorter ≤ 14 days as judged by a physician or nurse via "surprise question"
- Breathlessness whilst speaking
- Cognitive impairment as judged by physician or Mini-Cog in the G8 screening tool
- Severe physical, emotional or existential suffering because of which the enrollment and participation in the study would result in patient burden, as judged by the treating physicians and their multiprofessional team members
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
Palliativzentrum Hildegard, Basel
Basel, Switzerland, 4002
Actively Recruiting
2
Kantonsspital Baselland, Klinik für Onkologie, Hämatologie und Immuntherapie
Liestal, Switzerland, 4410
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Marcus Vetter, PD Dr. med.
J
Jan Gärtner, Prof. Dr. med.
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
2
Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions? Get in touch with our team for quick support
Not the Right Trial for You?
Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.
Already have an account? Log in here