Could a Nurse-Led support program ease Families' trauma after ICU?

NCT ID NCT05280691

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Rahel Naef Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 30, 2026 · Last updated Jul 01, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests whether a structured family support program helps relatives of critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs). The program includes a specialist nurse who supports families from admission through discharge and follow-up, plus better communication between the ICU team and family. Researchers will measure family satisfaction, communication quality, and mental health outcomes like anxiety and depression over 12 months. The goal is to see if this approach improves family well-being and can be used in other ICUs.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Family Support Intervention (specialist nurse support and structured communication)
What this could lead to: If effective, this program could become a standard way to support families of ICU patients, reducing their risk of anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
What could go wrong: This is a relatively small, early-stage trial in only eight ICUs in Switzerland, so results may not apply to other hospitals or countries. The intervention may not improve outcomes enough to justify the extra resources.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

anxiety disorder Depression post-traumatic stress disorder postintensive care syndrome

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

DEPRESSION, ANXIETY FAMILY DYNAMICS FAMILY MEMBERS POSTINTENSIVE CARE SYNDROME POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER QUALITY OF LIFE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Cantonal Hospital Baden

Baden, Switzerland
Cantonal Hospital Graubünden

Chur, Switzerland
Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen

Sankt Gallen, Switzerland
Cantonal Hospital Winterthur

Winterthur, Canton of Zurich, 8400, Switzerland
Hirslanden Clinic Zurich

Zurich, Switzerland
Hospital Thun

Thun, Switzerland
Lindenhof-Hospital

Bern, Switzerland
Lucerne Cantonal Hospital

Lucerne, Switzerland
Solothurn Hospitals AG, Cantonal Hospital Olten

Olten, Switzerland
Spital Thurgau AG, Cantonal Hospital Frauenfeld

Frauenfeld, Switzerland
University Hospital Bern - Inselspital

Bern, Switzerland
University Hospital Zurich

Zurich, 8091, Switzerland

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