Comparison of Web- Versus Classroom-based Basic Ultrasound and Extended Focused Assessment With Sonography for Trauma (EFAST) Training in Two European Hospitals

December 29, 2009 updated by: Brigham and Women's Hospital

Comparison of Web- Versus Classroom-based Basic Ultrasound and EFAST Training in Two European Hospitals

Study Objective: Training physicians in new skills via classroom-based teaching has inherent costs and time constraints. We sought to evaluate whether web-based didactics result in similar knowledge improvement and retention of basic ultrasound principles and the EFAST (Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma) compared with the traditional method.

Methods: Physicians from two German emergency departments were randomized into a classroom group with traditional lectures and a web group that watched narrated lectures online. All participants completed a pre- and post-test, and a second post-test eight weeks later. Both groups underwent hands-on training after the first post-test. A control group completed the two initial tests without didactic intervention.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

55

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • Germany
    • Bavaria
      • Kempten, Bavaria, Germany, 87435
        • Institut fuer Notfallmedizin e.V.
      • Nuernberg, Bavaria, Germany, 90419
        • Klinikum Nuernberg

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Physicians currently practicing in a German emergency department
  • Age ≥ 18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Inability to participate in all aspects of the study prior to study begin
  • Control group: Subjects who did not complete the pre-test

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

  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: Control
Active Comparator: Class
Other: Didactic training in basic ultrasound and the EFAST
Physicians in the classroom group (class) listened to traditional lectures, while the web group (web) watched narrated lectures online. All participants completed a pre- and post-test, and a second post-test eight weeks later. Both groups underwent hands-on training after the first post-test.
Active Comparator: Web
Other: Didactic training in basic ultrasound and the EFAST
Physicians in the classroom group (class) listened to traditional lectures, while the web group (web) watched narrated lectures online. All participants completed a pre- and post-test, and a second post-test eight weeks later. Both groups underwent hands-on training after the first post-test.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Mean test scores by didactic group for three consecutive multiple choice tests
Time Frame: November 2008 - February 2009
November 2008 - February 2009

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Participant satisfaction with training and reported comfort with ultrasound use after training
Time Frame: December 2008 - February 2009
December 2008 - February 2009

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Collaborators

Klinikum Nürnberg
Institut fuer Notfallmedizin Kempten e.V., Germany

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Elke Platz, MD, RDMS, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, USA

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

November 1, 2008

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2009

Study Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2009

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 24, 2009

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 29, 2009

First Posted (Estimate)

December 30, 2009

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

December 30, 2009

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

December 29, 2009

Last Verified

December 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2008-P-002019/1

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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