Simulation-Based Intrathecal Pump Refill Training (REFILL-IT)

October 1, 2026 updated by: Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

Optimizing Intrathecal Pump Refill Training: A Simulation-Based Study of Learning Curves and Procedural Competence.

Intrathecal drug delivery is an effective treatment option for patients with chronic (non-) cancer pain or spasticity who do not achieve sufficient benefit from conventional therapies. After intrathecal pump implantation, intrathecal pump refilling is an essential postoperative maintenance procedure that requires procedural competence to be performed safely and consistently. Despite the absence of a standardized intrathecal pump refill protocol, the REFFIL-IT study aims to train 40 participants in intrathecal pump refilling. Based on the learning curve during simulation-based training and the number of complete simulated refill procedures required to achieve stable procedural competence, a step-by-step standardized intrathecal pump refill protocol will be developed. The REFILL-IT study aims to contribute to the safe and correct intrathecal pump refilling in patients with chronic (non-) cancer pain and spasticity.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

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 Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Belgium
      • Jette, Belgium, 1090
        • UZ Brussel/VUB
        • Contact:
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Ulrike Van Hoey, MSc
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Britt Winnepenninckx, MSc
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Maarten Moens, MD, PhD, MBA
        • Sub-Investigator:
          • Lisa Goudman, MSc, PhD, MBA

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:

  • Healthcare professionals
  • (Healthcare) students;
  • Aged ≥18 years;
  • No prior independent performance of intrathecal pump refill procedures;
  • Dutch speaking.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Visual impairments preventing participation in stimulated-based intrathecal pump training;
  • Conditions such as severe neurological or musculoskeletal disorders affecting hand function that preclude participation in the training.

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: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Simulation-based intrathecal pump refill training
Procedure: Simulation-based intrathecal pump refill training

The REFILL-IT study consists of two mandatory phases and an optional third clinical phase.

During the Knowledge Acquisition Phase, participants will receive theoretical and practical instruction through educational videos and a written step-by-step guide. Progression requires successful completion of a knowledge assessment covering the refill procedure.

In the Skill Development Phase, participants will repeatedly perform simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures using explanted SynchroMed II™ (Medtronic) dummy pumps positioned beneath a 15-mm silicone skin pad. Each procedure will be assessed as either successful or unsuccessful to evaluate the development of procedural competence.

Participants who achieve stable competence and are physicians legally authorized to perform intrathecal pump refills in Belgium may progress to the Clinical Application Phase, where they will perform refill procedures in patients under the direct supervision of an experienced healthcare professional.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Number of complete simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures required to achieve stable procedural competence
Time Frame: Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase

The number of complete simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures required to achieve stable procedural competence will be determined using Learning Curve Cumulative Sum (LC-CUSUM) analysis.
Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Total Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) score per simulated refill procedure
Time Frame: Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase

Each (simulated) refill procedure will be evaluated using an OSATS-based assessment tool, assessing four predefined domains: aseptic technique, correct port access, volume verification, and procedural safety.
Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase
Attempt-level success or failure
Time Frame: Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase

Each (simulated) refill procedure will be classified as successful or failed based on the OSATS score and the occurrence of critical procedural errors.
Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase
Number and type of critical procedural errors
Time Frame: Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase

The number and type of critical procedural errors occurring during each simulated refill procedure will be recorded.
Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase
Number and type of procedural errors
Time Frame: Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase

Non-critical procedural errors, including minor deviations, delays, and technical difficulties, will be recorded during each (simulated) refill procedure.
Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase
Proportion of participants achieving stable procedural competence within the predefined training phase
Time Frame: Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase

The number of participants achieving stable procedural competence according to the predefined LC-CUSUM decision rule will be recorded, or until a maximum of 16 complete simulated refill procedures has been reached.
Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase
Number of participants requiring additional supervised practice or remediation after the predefined training phase
Time Frame: Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase

The number of participants requiring additional supervised practice or remediation will be recorded.
Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase
Number of port-access attempts per simulated refill procedure
Time Frame: Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase

The number of port-access attempts per (simulated) refill procedure will be recorded, with a maximum of three attempts per procedure.
Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase
Total procedure time of a complete simulated refill procedure
Time Frame: Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase

The total time required to complete each (simulated) intrathecal pump refill procedure will be recorded.
Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase
Time required for individual procedural steps
Time Frame: Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase

The time required for individual procedural steps during a (simulated) intrathecal pump refill procedure will be recorded.
Immediately after the intervention, namely after the simulated intrathecal pump refill procedures during the Skill Development Phase and during the Clinical Application Phase

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel

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)

November 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 7, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 1, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

October 2, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 2, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 1, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 26298_REFILL-IT

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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