Focused Lung Ultrasound: A Prospective Cohort Study in General Practice

NCT ID: NCT04711031

Last Updated: 2023-12-05

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

Total Enrollment

91 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-03-01

Study Completion Date

2022-06-05

Brief Summary

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This is a prospective cohort study that describes focused lung ultrasound (FLUS) findings in patients presenting with symptoms of an acute lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in general practice in Denmark.

Ten general practitioners (GPs) will perform FLUS in addition to their usual care of adults presenting with symptoms of an acute LRTI where the GP suspects a community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Eligible patients will consecutively be invited to participate during a two months' study period until each GP has included a total of ten patients. The GPs will register information about patients including age, gender, symptoms, clinical findings, results of any point-of-care test performed, if antibiotic treatment was prescribed and they will register information on FLUS performance and findings.

Detailed Description

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Conditions

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Ultrasonography Respiratory Tract Infections Pneumonia General Practice

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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Usual care + FLUS

At index consultation, patients will receive a FLUS examination in addition to the GP's usual care of adults presenting with symptoms of an acute LRTI.

FLUS

Intervention Type OTHER

The participating GPs use ultrasonography on a weekly basis and will use the ultrasonography device already available to them; however, the ultrasound machine system and type of transducer will be reported. The GPs will use a 14-zone FLUS scanning protocol that has previously been validated in a general practice setting. Each of the scanning zones on the patient's left side can be denoted from 1L to 7L and from 1R to 7R on the right side. Each scanning zone should be assessed using FLUS. The transducer is placed in the middle of a scanning zone making a cross sectional image of an intercostal space and the underlying pleura blades. The patients will be examined in an upright position. The GPs will be trained in the 14-zone scanning protocol during a FLUS training program prior to recruitment of patients. FLUS pathological findings are predefined, and the variables will be dichotomized into present or not present for each scanning zone.

Interventions

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FLUS

The participating GPs use ultrasonography on a weekly basis and will use the ultrasonography device already available to them; however, the ultrasound machine system and type of transducer will be reported. The GPs will use a 14-zone FLUS scanning protocol that has previously been validated in a general practice setting. Each of the scanning zones on the patient's left side can be denoted from 1L to 7L and from 1R to 7R on the right side. Each scanning zone should be assessed using FLUS. The transducer is placed in the middle of a scanning zone making a cross sectional image of an intercostal space and the underlying pleura blades. The patients will be examined in an upright position. The GPs will be trained in the 14-zone scanning protocol during a FLUS training program prior to recruitment of patients. FLUS pathological findings are predefined, and the variables will be dichotomized into present or not present for each scanning zone.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

GPs who use PoCUS (Point-of-Care Ultrasound) at least once a week in general practice or out-of-hour services.


Patients aged ≥ 18 years with acute cough (\< 28 days) and at least one other symptom of an acute LRTI and where the GP suspects CAP.

Exclusion Criteria

* Previous antibiotic prescription for the current episode of acute LRTI.
* Patients not listed with the GP (no medical record available).
* The patient is not capable of understanding and signing informed consent.
* The patient does not wish to participate in the study.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Aalborg University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Julie Jepsen Strøm

MD, PhD Student

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Julie J Strøm, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Aalborg University

Locations

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Center for General Practice at Aalborg University

Aalborg, , Denmark

Site Status

Countries

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Denmark

References

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Strom JJ, Andersen CA, Jensen MB, Thomsen JL, Laursen CB, Skaarup SH, Schultz HHL, Hansen MP. Evaluating general practitioners' focused lung ultrasound competence and findings in patients with suspected community-acquired pneumonia in general practice. Scand J Prim Health Care. 2025 Jun;43(2):359-369. doi: 10.1080/02813432.2024.2447083. Epub 2024 Dec 30.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 39736112 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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194-1

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id