Impact of Smell Testing on Health Outcomes

October 29, 2025 updated by: Valentina Parma, Monell Chemical Senses Center

Validating the Impact of Smell Testing on Health Outcomes and Provider Engagement.

Smell dysfunction is frequent yet neglected. The sense of smell plays a crucial role in signaling disease, safety, and overall quality of life. However, the significance of a functional sense of smell in terms of health and well-being is often overlooked until one experiences a loss of smell due to injury or disease. Research demonstrates that individuals are often not self-aware of their smell dysfunction (i.e. they do not spontaneously report smell dysfunction as a symptom), especially if the changes are gradual, as in normal aging. Patients with smell dysfunction experience a marked reduction in quality of life, poor mental health, nutritional health, and brain health as well as increased 5- and 10-year mortality in older adults. This study explores whether or not enabling healthcare providers to offer resources and guidance on coping strategies for smell dysfunction improves health and wellbeing in those who experience it.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The investigators will recruit participants in cycles for in person or remote participation. Each cycle is characterized by an initial assessment, intervention deployment (smell testing), post-intervention evaluation, 1-month and 6-month follow-ups via survey, text or phone to assess post-intervention psychological health and connection to care for smell dysfunction. The research team will assess odor detection, intensity, identification, pleasantness and discrimination. Based on the cut-offs determined prior to the beginning of data collection, the investigators will prospectively assign a participant to the smell dysfunction group or to the normosmia (no smell dysfunction) group. Based on this diagnostic intervention, participants with smell dysfunction will receive patient-centered information and education about i) community engagement with individuals with smell loss, ii) available counseling and iii) medical support. At the end of the 1-month and 6-month follow-up periods, the investigators will assess effectiveness of the intervention using pre-post comparisons to determine whether individuals taking a smell test felt improvements in their psychological health and whether they have contacted a provider and/or followed up with a visit.

Sessions may include multiple surveys/instruments depending on the session number. Specifically, emotional ratings and demographic information will be collected by means of either a paper - or computer-based questionnaire. A survey to measure psychological health and quality of life will be given to participants, as well as a questionnaire to measure depression, which is associated with smell dysfunction. Participants will answer questions about how they are feeling and how ready they are to contact a healthcare provider. The specific smell tests that will be given to participants will be either SCENTinel, NIH Toolbox, Arohma, or the B-SIT test. Other Follow-Up Questions include ones regarding access to care, contacting a provider, seeing a provider, and satisfaction with care.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
1000

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Pennsylvania
      • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
        • Monell Chemical Senses Center
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Valentina Parma
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Pamela Dalton
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Danielle Reed

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Can read and understand English and have access to a reliable internet connection and a smart device or computer for the duration of the experimental sessions, unless they are part of community events in which smart devices are provided

Exclusion Criteria:

- Known intolerance or allergy to any of the odor stimuli used

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Quadruple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Smell dysfunction detection and educational intervention
Participants will take smell tests and receive educational materials on smell dysfunction.
Behavioral: Patient-centered information and education
Participants with smell dysfunction will receive patient-centered information and education about i) community engagement with individuals with smell loss, ii) available counseling and iii) medical support.
No Intervention: Normosmia
No intervention

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Measuring depression symptoms using the PHQ-9 score
Time Frame: PHQ-9 is completed at baseline, during 1 month follow-up session, and during the 6 month follow-up.
The PHQ-9 is a screening measure of depressive symptoms.
PHQ-9 is completed at baseline, during 1 month follow-up session, and during the 6 month follow-up.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Measuring health-related quality of life using the SF-12 survey.
Time Frame: SF-12 is completed at baseline, during 1 month follow-up session, and during the 6 month follow-up.
The SF-12 is a screening measure of health-related quality of life.
SF-12 is completed at baseline, during 1 month follow-up session, and during the 6 month follow-up.
Measuring self-reported health perception using a "How do you feel?" 0-100 Visual Analogue Scale (VAS).
Time Frame: VAS is completed at baseline, during 1 month follow-up session, and during the 6 month follow-up.
"How do you feel?" VAS is a self-reported measure of health perception.
VAS is completed at baseline, during 1 month follow-up session, and during the 6 month follow-up.
Effectiveness of implementation (to contact a healthcare provider for smell dysfunction within up to 6 months from smell testing).
Time Frame: Evaluated during 1 month and 6 month follow ups
Participants are asked a Yes or No question about whether they contacted a healthcare provider. The investigators will examine the proportion of participants connecting with a healthcare provider for smell dysfunction.
Evaluated during 1 month and 6 month follow ups

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Monell Chemical Senses Center

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Valentina Parma, Monell Chemical Senses Center
  • Principal Investigator: Pamela Dalton, Monell Chemical Senses Center
  • Principal Investigator: Danielle Reed, Monell Chemical Senses Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
November 1, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
November 30, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
October 22, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 29, 2025

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 30, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
October 30, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
October 29, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
October 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 856831
  • R44DC022498 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

All collected data

IPD Sharing Time Frame

When data collection begins, it will be uploaded to Hub4Smell and available for accessing following completion of data collection for every 250 participants. Once access to data on Hub4Smell has been granted, data will be available indefinitely.

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Study subject data will be anonymized before data upload to the Hub4Smell database. The anonymization algorithm will be shared with the Hub4Smell Contributors by the Hub4Smell leadership team. Internally, Hub4Smell will associate a persistent surrogate key to identify each record. The study will include metadata attributes to define the data that will be shared with the Hub4Smell database. The Hub4Smell leadership team will trigger loading and sharing procedures of data to the Hub4Smell database. Data will be loaded privately and when marked ready to be shared, will become available to the Hub4Smell Contributors, who will be informed that a new batch of data has been uploaded. Consumers of the data will be required to create an account to download data. Access to source code will be controlled through GitHub user accounts. Access will be approved by the multiple principal investigators (MPIs) and technical teams. Data will be available indefinitely at this time.

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • STUDY_PROTOCOL
  • SAP
  • ICF
  • ANALYTIC_CODE

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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