Effectiveness of a Computer Application in Improving Pulmonary Artery Catheter Waveform Interpretation

NCT ID: NCT00138073

Last Updated: 2014-06-30

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: TERMINATED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 55 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2005-12-31
• Study Completion Date: 2012-04-30

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.

Conditions

Pulmonary Artery Catheter Waveform Interpretation

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NON_RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Web-based waveform interpretation guide

The arm has access to the Web-based waveform interpretation guide.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Web-based waveform interpretation guide

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Use of an educational website.

Interventions

Web-based waveform interpretation guide

Use of an educational website.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Critical care nurses
• House officers rotating through the medical Intensive Care Unit
• Fellows rotating through the medical Intensive Care Unit

• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Massachusetts General Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Jaime Chang, MD

Investigator

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Octo Barnett, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Massachusetts General Hospital/Laboratory of Computer Science

Locations

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Countries

United States

Other Identifiers

2005-P-001381/1; MGH

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id