VHA Clinicians and Bioterror Events: Interactive Web-based Learning

NCT ID: NCT00123396

Last Updated: 2015-04-07

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

15 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2004-08-31

Study Completion Date

2007-09-30

Brief Summary

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Our 4-year project uses public domain software and content developed by a University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) team and updates, refines, and tailors it to the unique clinician populations and electronic educational applications of VAMCs We are testing an innovative, web-based intervention adapted specifically for the VA to increase syndromic recognition, treatment, and post-exposure prophylaxis of biological warfare agents at multiple VA sites via a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Ultimately, we will disseminate the intervention throughout the entire VA system.

Detailed Description

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Background:

Because of VA's long history in disaster preparedness, and the crucial role VA providers will play, the VA medical system has the potential to make an enormous difference in outcomes following a bioterror attack or infectious outbreak. A 2002 AHRQ report reviewed 60 studies and found that very few bioterrorism preparedness training programs were rigorously evaluated. Our project was the first effort to formally test and implement a bioterrorism preparedness intervention in the VA healthcare system. Because Internet-delivered interventions have the potential for wide dissemination, we used the Internet to implement the Intervention.

Objectives:

1. To develop, tailor, and continuously update and validate evidence- and scenario-based electronic teaching and testing modules to increase VA clinicians' knowledge of Category A biological warfare agents. We refer to these instruments as Bioterrorism Case Analysis and Skills Enhancement Sessions (BioCASES) and Bioterrorism Skills Test Sessions (BioTESTS).
2. To test the effectiveness of the BioCASES teaching modules by way of a randomized controlled trial of VAMCs using the BioTESTS to evaluate their effectiveness for increasing and sustaining VA clinician knowledge, skills, and ability to respond to bioterrorism events.
3. To continue to develop and adapt BioCASES and BioTESTS for use in VA CME programs. Ultimately, we will disseminate the intervention throughout the entire VA system.

Methods:

Our project team developed or refined and updated a total of 12 educational modules focusing on CDC's Category A agents and other emerging infectious diseases. We developed post-test instruments and case-based scenarios germane to the VA patient population for anthrax and smallpox. Materials were designed specifically for the unique clinician populations and electronic educational applications available in VAMCs. Website functionality and content were refined using the nominal group technique and "thinking aloud" protocols. We tested our innovative, web-based educational intervention at fifteen VA facilities via a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Status:

The intervention has been completed. Fifteen sites were randomized and completed the study processes.

Conditions

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Smallpox Anthrax

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Blinding Strategy

DOUBLE

Participants Investigators

Study Groups

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Arm 1

Test the effectiveness of the BioCASES teaching modules by way of a randomized controlled trial of VAMCs using the BioTESTS to evaluate their effectiveness for increasing and sustaining VA clinician knowledge, skills, and ability to respond to bioterrorism events.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

BioCASES and BioTESTS

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Interventions

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BioCASES and BioTESTS

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

Clinicians at participating facilities who work in a primary care setting (ED, MOD, general medicine, primary care, or CBOC).

Exclusion Criteria

Facilities will be excluded from the project that 1)choose not to participate, or 2)do not have the minimum number of clinicians needed.
Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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University of Alabama at Birmingham

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

US Department of Veterans Affairs

FED

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Catarina I. Kiefe, PhD MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL

Thomas K Houston, MD MPH

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL

Locations

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Birmingham VA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL

Birmingham, Alabama, United States

Site Status

Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Site Status

VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, Loma Linda, CA

Loma Linda, California, United States

Site Status

James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL

Tampa, Florida, United States

Site Status

Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA

Bedford, Massachusetts, United States

Site Status

VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

Site Status

New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Site Status

Syracuse VA Medical Center, Syracuse, NY

Syracuse, New York, United States

Site Status

Tennessee Valley Healthcare System Nashville Campus, Nashville, TN

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Abdolrasulnia M, Strasser S, Pryor E, Terndrup T, Weissman NW, Williams M, Heck E, Casebeer L. Spatial Patterns Representing the Geographic Impact of Physician Participation in an Online CME Bioterrorism Course Following the Anthrax Events of 2001. Medinfo. 2004 Dec 1; 2004(CD):1498.

Reference Type RESULT

Bennett NL, Casebeer LL, Kristofco RE, Strasser SM. Physicians' Internet information-seeking behaviors. J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2004 Winter;24(1):31-8. doi: 10.1002/chp.1340240106.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 15069910 (View on PubMed)

Terndrup T, Nafziger S, Weissman N, Casebeer L, Pryor E. Online bioterrorism continuing medical education: development and preliminary testing. Acad Emerg Med. 2005 Jan;12(1):45-50. doi: 10.1197/j.aem.2004.08.040.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 15635137 (View on PubMed)

O'Byrne WT, Terndrup TE, Kiefe CI, Weissman NW. A Primer on Biological Weapons for the Clinician, Part I. Johns Hopkins Advanced Studies in Medicine. 2003 Feb 1; 3:75-86.

Reference Type RESULT

O'Byrne WT, Terndrup TE, Kiefe CI, Weissman NW. A Primer on Biological Weapons for the Clinician, Part II. Johns Hopkins Advanced Studies in Medicine. 2003 Mar 1; 3:157-167.

Reference Type RESULT

Casebeer LL, Strasser SM, Spettell CM, Wall TC, Weissman N, Ray MN, Allison JJ. Designing tailored Web-based instruction to improve practicing physicians' preventive practices. J Med Internet Res. 2003 Jul-Sep;5(3):e20. doi: 10.2196/jmir.5.3.e20. Epub 2003 Sep 25.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 14517111 (View on PubMed)

Filoromo C, Macrina D, Pryor E, Terndrup T, McNutt SD. An innovative approach to training hospital-based clinicians for bioterrorist attacks. Am J Infect Control. 2003 Dec;31(8):511-4. doi: 10.1016/s0196-6553(03)00699-0.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 14647116 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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BTI 02-092

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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