Pulmonary Artery Catheter Waveform Interpretation
Conditions
Keywords
pulmonary artery catheter, waveform interpretation, computer-based learning, medical education
Brief summary
Skill with pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) waveform interpretation is inadequate among physicians and nurses. We, the investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital, have developed a web-based computer program to assist physicians and nurses in PAC waveform interpretation. We will study the effectiveness of this program on improving the interpretation of waveforms on a computer-based test.
Detailed description
The pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) guides diagnosis and treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU), but studies have shown that physicians and nurses collectively have inadequate skill in interpreting PAC waveforms. We have developed a Web-based application that provides physicians and nurses with rapid access to relevant PAC-related content for use in patient care situations. The application begins with a visual index that assists clinicians in the recognition of both normal and abnormal waveforms and provides waveform-specific links to concise advice on making accurate pressure measurements, troubleshooting system problems, and avoiding complications of catheter use. Initial evaluation will consist of a before-and-after trial to determine whether the application improves test performance in the areas of waveform recognition, accuracy of measurement, and appropriateness of action. Once the resource is in production, we will electronically log usage and survey users to evaluate the extent and effect of actual utilization.
Interventions
DEVICEWeb-based waveform interpretation guide
Use of an educational website.
Sponsors
Massachusetts General Hospital
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Critical care nurses * House officers rotating through the medical Intensive Care Unit * Fellows rotating through the medical Intensive Care Unit
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Score on a Computer-based Test on Pulmonary Artery Catheter Waveform Interpretation | 1 month | The study was terminated before the primary outcome could be measured. None of the participants took the post-intervention test. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Individual and Collective Frequency of Use and Usage Patterns of the Web-based Waveform Interpretation Guide | 1 year | The study was terminated before the secondary outcome could be measured. Usage data was not collected over the following year. |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Web-based Waveform Interpretation Guide The arm has access to the Web-based waveform interpretation guide.
Web-based waveform interpretation guide: Use of an educational website. | 55 |
| Total | 55 |
Withdrawals & dropouts
| Period | Reason | FG000 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Study | lack of resources | 55 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Web-based Waveform Interpretation Guide |
|---|---|
| Age, Customized any age | 55 participants |
| Region of Enrollment United States | 55 participants |
| Sex/Gender, Customized any gender | 55 participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk |
|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | — / — |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 0 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 0 |
Outcome results
Primary
Score on a Computer-based Test on Pulmonary Artery Catheter Waveform Interpretation
The study was terminated before the primary outcome could be measured. None of the participants took the post-intervention test.
Time frame: 1 month
Secondary
Individual and Collective Frequency of Use and Usage Patterns of the Web-based Waveform Interpretation Guide
The study was terminated before the secondary outcome could be measured. Usage data was not collected over the following year.
Time frame: 1 year