Transference of Established Simulated Skills (TEST) Trial (TEST)

Transference of Established Simulated Skills (TEST) Trial: Tracking Transference of Positive Pressure Ventilation Skills From Simulation to Delivery Room.

This study aims to determine if skills learned in the simulation lab, specifically in managing mask leak during positive pressure ventilation (PPV), translate effectively to the delivery room. By comparing the performance of healthcare providers on mannequins in the lab to their performance on newborns in the delivery room, the study seeks to establish a Ventilation Performance Score (VPS) based on data from a respiratory function monitor. The primary hypothesis is that a provider's ability to minimize mask leak on a mannequin correlates with their ability to do so with a newborn. The prospective observational TEST Trial will use the Monivent Neo100 to collect and analyze PPV data, comparing key parameters like mask leak and VQS between the two settings to assess correlations. Secondary analysis will explore individual aspects of PPV, such as PIP, PEEP, and eVT.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Neonatal Respiratory Distress
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Simulation

Detailed Description

Objectives: The aim of this study is to establish evidence that supports the transfer of skills learned in the simulation lab to the delivery room. The objective of this study is to compare the performance of positive pressure ventilation (PPV) in the simulation lab to the performance of the same individual in the delivery room. Our goal is to establish a comparison between parameters measured on the simulator and those obtained from real newborn infants, specifically looking at mask leak. Our approach hopes to develop a ventilation performance score (VPS) in the process that will be based on objective data collected using a respiratory function monitor (RFM). The primary hypothesis is that the quality of a qualified provider's ability to circumvent mask leak on a mannequin correlates with the ability of the same provider to circumvent mask leak observed on a newborn infant.

Design and outcomes: TEST Trial is a prospective observational study to assess differences in the participants ability to avoid mask leak while performing PPV and in the process allow the investigators to develop a ventilatory performance score in the simulation lab and the delivery room. We will use the RFM Monivent Neo100 to gather PPV data in both the simulation lab from the mannequins and newborns in the delivery room. The study will compare mask leak as well as VPS in the simulation room to mask leak and VPS in the delivery room to assess for correlations. In addition, the investigators will conduct secondary analysis on each individual domain of positive pressure ventilation, such as PIP, PEEP, eVT, etc.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 120

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75235
      • Parkland Memorial Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

1. Respiratory Therapists (RTs):

   Demographics: This group includes Respiratory Therapists employed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Parkland Hospital. Participants have varying levels of experience, ranging from newly certified RTs to those with extensive experience in neonatal care.

2. Newborn Infants:

Demographics: This group includes newborn infants requiring positive pressure ventilation (PPV) immediately after birth in the delivery room. Infants included in the study will vary in gestational age, birth weight, and clinical condition, representing a broad range of neonatal resuscitation scenarios.

Description

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria for Respiratory Therapists (RTs)

Inclusion Criteria:

• Respiratory Therapists who are employed in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Parkland Hospital.
• RTs who actively participate in neonatal deliveries.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Respiratory Therapists classified as "float" RTs, meaning those who do not have a permanent assignment in the NICU.
• RTs who intend to leave the institution within the upcoming year.

Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria for Newborn Infants

Inclusion Criteria:

• Newborn infants who require positive pressure ventilation (PPV) immediately after birth in the delivery room.
• Infants of various gestational ages and birth weights, representing a broad spectrum of neonatal resuscitation scenarios.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Newborns who do not require PPV after birth.
• Infants for whom the use of the respiratory function monitor (RFM) is not feasible due to medical or technical reasons.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Respiratory Therapists; This cohort consists of respiratory therapists (RTs) who are actively involved in both simulation-based training sessions and actual neonatal deliveries. Participants will have varying levels of experience, from newly qualified to seasoned professionals. During the study, RTs will perform positive pressure ventilation (PPV) on both neonatal mannequins in the simulation lab and on newborns in the delivery room. Their performance will be measured using a respiratory function monitor (RFM), focusing on parameters such as mask leak, peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), and exhaled tidal volume (eVT). The goal is to assess the transferability of their skills from simulation to real-life scenarios.	Behavioral: Simulation; Observational study with simulations.
Newborn Infants; This cohort consists of respiratory therapists (RTs) who are actively involved in both simulation-based training sessions and actual neonatal deliveries. Participants will have varying levels of experience, from newly qualified to seasoned professionals. During the study, RTs will perform positive pressure ventilation (PPV) on both neonatal mannequins in the simulation lab and on newborns in the delivery room. Their performance will be measured using a respiratory function monitor (RFM), focusing on parameters such as mask leak, peak inspiratory pressure (PIP), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), and exhaled tidal volume (eVT). The goal is to assess the transferability of their skills from simulation to real-life scenarios.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Correlation of mask leak performance	Correlation between the percentage of mask leak observed during positive pressure ventilation (PPV) on a mannequin in the simulation laboratory and the percentage of mask leak observed during PPV on a newborn infant in the delivery room.	1 year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Correlation of Ventilation Performance Score (VPS)	Correlation of Ventilation Performance Score (VPS) between the simulation lab and the delivery room.	1 year
Correlation of submetrics of VPS	Correlation of submetrics of VPS (such as TVe, mask seal, PIP, PEEP, etc.) between the simulation lab and the delivery room.	1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• Trial website

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 12, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 29, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): June 29, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 23, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 23, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): August 26, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 25, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 22, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Respiratory Tract Diseases; Lung Diseases; Pulmonary Atelectasis
• Other Study ID Numbers: STU 2023-1099

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No