African Survey on Sepsis Knowledge (ASK) (ASK)

This study is an anonymous online survey on clinical knowledge of sepsis among healthcare professionals in seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The survey is to be repeated every 12-24 months.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Sepsis

Detailed Description

The survey is being conducted in the partner countries of the research network "sub-Saharan Africa consorTium for the Advancement of Innovative Research and Care in Sepsis (STAIRS)," which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). As part of clinical capacity building in partner institutions in Uganda, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria, the project will establish a series of webinars and a learning platform, among other things. The survey will be conducted in two separate cross-sectional waves. The baseline survey serves to identify relevant knowledge gaps and determine the needs of various groups of healthcare professionals. The second wave will compare sepsis knowledge scores between waves.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 300

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Claudia Spies, MD, Prof.; Phone Number: +49 30 450 55 11 02; Email: claudia.spies@charite.de

Study Locations

• Ghana
  • Kumasi, Ghana
    • Recruiting
    • The Komfo Anokye teaching hospital
    • Contact: Phone Number: +233 593 830 400; Email: info@kath.gov.gh

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Adult members of a healthcare profession (e.g., doctors, nurses, clinical officers) or their trainees from healthcare facility in one of the seven partner countries (Uganda, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Occupation: adult members of a healthcare profession (e.g., doctors, nurses, midwifes) or their trainees
• Place of work: employment in a healthcare facility in one of the seven partner countries (Uganda, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria).
• Consent: Willingness to participate voluntarily in the anonymous online survey.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not employed in a healthcare profession (e.g., administrative staff, non-medical professionals)
• Not employed in one of the participating countries. Incomplete questionnaires (< 50% of questions answered)
• No internet access or technical limitations that make participation impossible. To complete the survey online.
• Language skills: Sufficient language skills in the survey language (English or French)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Participants from the first wave; 150 adult participants from healthcare professions from partner institutions in Uganda, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria are surveyed.
Participants from the second wave; 150 adult participants from healthcare professions from partner institutions in Uganda, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria are surveyed.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Sepsis - Knowledge - Score	Measured as the sum of correctly answered questions in the questionnaire. This results in a sepsis knowledge score of 0-47 points, with higher scores indicating better knowledge.; Assessed in two independent cross-sectional survey waves.; Calculated for all participants.; Serves as the main measure of clinical sepsis knowledge in partner countries across survey waves conducted before and after the implementation period of capacity-building activities	Baseline survey period (January 19, 2026 - April 30, 2026) and follow-up survey period (April 1, 2027 - July 31, 2027)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Domain-specific knowledge of sepsis	Domain-specific knowledge of sepsis is measured in five domains, to identify specific knowledge gaps. Domain-specific scores will be measured as the sum of correctly answered questions in the questionnaire in respective domain. Domains are: definitions of sepsis and septic shock (0-8 points, with higher points indicating higher knowledge); sepsis risk groups (0-6 points, with higher points indicating higher knowledge),; causes of sepsis (0-6 points, with higher points indicating higher knowledge),; sepsis symptoms (0-6 points, with higher points indicating higher knowledge),; management of sepsis (0-21 points, with higher points indicating higher knowledge). All domains together sum up to the overall sepsis knowledge score (primary outcome).	Baseline survey period (January 19, 2026 - April 30, 2026), and follow-up survey period (April 1, 2027 - July 31, 2027)
Analysis of sepsis knowledge scores and domain-specific scores by professional role	Correlations between sepsis knowledge scores and professional roles and different levels of education within professional groups (nurses, doctors, and midwifes).; Regression-based predictors of overall sepsis knowledge scores and domain-specific scores by professional roles and different levels of education within the professional groups of nurses, doctors, and midwifes	Baseline survey period (January 19, 2026 - April 30, 2026), and follow-up survey period (April 1, 2027 - July 31, 2027)
Country comparison	• Between group comparison in sepsis knowledge scores and domain-specific sepsis knowledge between different countries (Uganda, Ethiopia, the Demoratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, (potentially other countries in case of spill-over).	Baseline survey period (January 19, 2026 - April 30, 2026), and follow-up survey period (April 1, 2027 - July 31, 2027)
Second survey wave only: Change in sepsis knowledge scores between survey waves	- Difference in average knowledge score in repeated survey.; Between-wave comparison of sepsis knowledge scores and domain specific sepsis knowledge scores in a comparison between baseline assessment and after implementation of STAIRS capacity building measures; Comparisons between survey waves will be conducted using appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests	Follow-up survey period (April 1, 2027 - July 31, 2027)
Comparison of sepsis knowledge scores by self-reported participation in capacity-building measures	Comparison of sepsis knowledge scores and domain-specific scores between respondents who report participation in capacity-building activities and those who do not; If possible, assessment of correlations and adjusted relationships between participation in capacity-building activities and sepsis knowledge scores	Follow-up survey period (April 1, 2027 - July 31, 2027)
Baseline survey only: Self-assessment of perceived training needs	Exploratory analysis of self-reported sepsis training needs, and preferred formats (virtual vs. in-person); Self-reported perception of the importance of sepsis as a training subject	Baseline survey period (January 19, 2026 - April 30, 2026)
Vignette-based sepsis knowledge score (sum of correct responses to predefined vignette items)	Calculated as the sum of correct responses (0-9 points) to predefined items across four clinical case vignettes; Analyzed separately from the primary sepsis knowledge score; Analyzed descriptively and compared between groups and survey waves using appropriate statistical tests	Baseline survey period (January 19, 2026 - April 30, 2026), and follow-up survey period (April 1, 2027 - July 31, 2027)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Claudia Spies
• Investigators: Study Director: Claudia Spies, MD, Prof., Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (CCM/CVK), Charité - University Medicine Berlin

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 20, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2027
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 16, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 10, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): January 20, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 24, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 23, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Infections; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome; Inflammation; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Sepsis
• Other Study ID Numbers: STAIRS

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No