NCT07454733 · Trustees of Dartmouth College
Do Video Recordings of Multidisciplinary Clinics Improve Quality of Life for People With ALS and Their Caregivers?
(VITALS)
What this study is about
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, rare neurodegenerative disease affecting 30,000 people in the United States. The gold the usual treatment for people with ALS is multidisciplinary clinics (MDC). In these multidisciplinary clinics, which occur every 3 to 4 months, people with ALS see up to 12 different healthcare providers (e.g., speech therapy, physical therapy, the ALS doctor).
View original scientific description
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal, rare neurodegenerative disease affecting 30,000 people in the United States. The gold standard of care for people with ALS is multidisciplinary clinics (MDC). In these multidisciplinary clinics, which occur every 3 to 4 months, people with ALS see up to 12 different healthcare providers (e.g., speech therapy, physical therapy, the ALS doctor). These clinics can last from three to five hours, and across these three to five hours people with ALS and their caregivers receive a lot of information that is critical to the care and quality of life for people with ALS. However, this information can be difficult to remember given the large amount of information that is conveyed. The current standard for providing take-home information about the visit is to provide patients with a written after-visit summary and access to their doctor's notes about the visit, typically through the patient portal. This study tests whether providing participants with video recordings of their MDC visits improves their quality of life and the quality of life of their caregivers. The study will enroll 400 pairs of people with ALS and their caregivers from eight different sites in the United States. Half of the participants in the study will receive their after-visit summary notes (the NOTES condition) and the other half of the participants will receive both their summary notes, but will also receive video recordings of their MDC visits that they can watch on their own at home (the VIDEO condition). The study will last for 12 months, with participants receiving NOTES or VIDEO at each of their regularly-scheduled MDCs during the 12 months. The study will test whether caregiver and patient participants in the VIDEO condition experience better quality of life than those in the NOTES condition at 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months from study enrollment. The results of this study will help determine what is the most effective approach to communicating MDC information to people with ALS and their caregivers.
Interventions
BEHAVIORAL
Video recording
We will video record participants' multidisciplinary clinic (MDC) visits for 12 months. Participants will access the videos in HealthPAL, an NIH-funded, HIPAA-compliant personal health library developed with older adults and caregivers, available in Spanish and English. Each specialist visited with during the MDC will have a 'chapter' in HealthPAL that can be reviewed online at home by participants. Participants will receive orientation and training on both their patient portal and HealthPAL, including how to review and share their recordings using a take-home manual (an instructions video is also available in HealthPAL).
BEHAVIORAL
Notes Instruction
Participants will be given instruction on how to view their after-visit summaries and doctors' notes in their patient portal, as well as how to give other trusted family members or friends access to their visit notes.
Primary outcome measures
For Caregiver Participants: the total score on the PROMIS-10 self report survey
Time frame: Administered at enrollment (baseline) and 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months after enrollment.
The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-10 (PROMIS-10) is a self-report measure of quality of life. The PROMIS-10 will be administered to caregivers via a secure online survey. We will analyze the total score on the PROMIS-10 as the primary outcome for caregiver participants.
For Patient Participants: The total score on the ALSAQ-40 self report survey.
Time frame: Administered at enrollment (baseline) and 1 month, 6 months, and 12 months after enrollment.
The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Assessment Questionnaire (ALSAQ-40) is a self-report measure of quality of life for people with ALS. The ALSAQ-40 will be administered via a secure online survey.
Who can participate
This study lists these criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov. A study coordinator reviews eligibility during screening — this page does not determine whether you qualify.
Inclusion criteria
- for People with ALS:
- Diagnosis of ALS by either El- Escorial or Gold Coast Criteria
- ≥18 years of age
- Plan to attend MDC visits for 12 months
- Speak English or Spanish
- Presence of a caregiver (defined as someone who assists with care) who is also participating in the VITALS trial
- Projected life expectancy of at least 12 months as determined by the site investigator.
Exclusion criteria
- for People with ALS:
- Unable or unwilling to provide informed consent or follow study procedures
- Significant cognitive impairment, clinical dementia, or unstable psychiatric illness (including, but not limited to, psychosis, active suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, or untreated major depression) as determined by the site investigator
- Current pregnancy based on participant self-report;
- Unable to access the internet;
- Do not have access to a personal or shared email and are not interested in creating a personal or shared email;
- Do not wish to create a patient portal account, if they do not already have one;
- Uncorrected hearing or visual impairment that would impair the ability to view video recordings;
- Incarcerated. Inclusion Criteria for Caregivers:
- Agree to their identified role as a caregiver of a patient with ALS participating in the VITALS trial;
- Speak English or Spanish;
- ≥18 years of age. Exclusion Criteria for Caregivers:
- Unable or unwilling to provide consent or follow study procedures;
- Unable to access the internet;
- Do not have access to a personal or shared email and are not interested in creating a personal or shared email;
- Uncorrected hearing or visual impairment;
- Professional caregiver for the patient;
- Incarcerated.
Where
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Jacksonville, Florida
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Lebanon, New Hampshire
- Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Madison, Wisconsin
Collaborators
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Penn State Health Milton S Hershey Medical Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Mayo Clinic
Related conditions & keywords
Frequently asked questions
What is a clinical trial?
A clinical trial is a research study that tests new medical treatments, drugs, devices, or procedures to determine their safety and effectiveness. Trials are carefully designed and monitored to protect participants while advancing medical knowledge.
Is it safe to participate?
Clinical trials follow strict safety guidelines and ethical standards. Trials must be reviewed and approved, and participants are closely monitored by medical professionals throughout the study. You can withdraw at any time if you choose.
Will I be compensated?
Many clinical trials offer compensation for your time, travel expenses, and inconvenience. The specific compensation varies by study and will be discussed during the screening process. All study-related medical care is typically provided at no cost to participants.
Will I receive a placebo instead of treatment?
When effective treatment exists, participants typically receive either the standard treatment plus the study intervention, or the standard treatment plus placebo. You would not be denied effective care. Placebos are primarily used when no proven treatment is available, or in addition to standard care. Your trial consent form will clearly explain what treatments you may receive.
Can I leave a trial if I change my mind?
Absolutely. Participation in clinical trials is completely voluntary. You have the right to withdraw from the study at any time, for any reason, without penalty or loss of benefits to which you are otherwise entitled.
How long does a clinical trial last?
Trial duration varies widely depending on the study design and purpose. Some trials last just a few weeks, while others may continue for months or years. The study coordinator will provide specific timeline information during your screening call.
Data: ClinicalTrials.gov · synced Oct 8, 2026 · Source of record for eligibility and locations