Dispatch of Emergency Call Using Video Streaming Compared With Traditional Telephone Communication

NCT ID: NCT05742412

Last Updated: 2023-08-30

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 20539 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2023-01-01
• Study Completion Date: 2023-04-30

Brief Summary

In the Emergency Medical Dispatch Center, all EMS dispatchers were divided into one of two clusters with 11 EMS dispatchers in each cluster. Because of few clusters, a matched-pair (MP) design was used based on the average proportion of the dispatched level of urgency (highest level of urgency used as primary matching criteria), years of employment and the average duration of emergency calls in a 3-months period (1st of January 2022 - 31st of March 2022) before the implementation of video streaming. Newly employed personnel where matching was not possible were randomly assigned to one of the two clusters. Prior to the study period, video streaming was gradually implemented in the intervention group during a 6-months period (1st of July 2022 - 31st of December 2022).

Using a cluster randomized setup, the aim was to investigate differences in the management of emergency calls (dispatches) when emergency medical service (EMS) dispatchers use video streaming compared with telephone-only (audio-only) communication. All emergency calls will be randomly distributed between the two clusters.

Detailed Description

In Denmark, all emergency medical calls are answered by a nurse- or paramedic trained in dispatching emergencies. The EMS dispatcher determines the level of urgency and the type and number of resources to be allocated (e.g., ambulance, physician-manned vehicle and/or physician-manned helicopter (HEMS). The decision-making process is supported by a standardized national criteria-based dispatch tool called Danish Index for Emergency Care (DI). DI is a tool that classifies the patient's main complaint into different symptom groups (chapters) to determine the level of urgency required and which resources to allocate.

As standard, emergency calls are based on telephone-only (audio-only) communication, which might limit the understanding of a complex clinical presentation.

Previous studies suggest that a visualized clinical presentation could aid the EMS dispatchers in their decision-making and dispatch.

The decision on implementing video streaming has been made by the management board of the Prehospital Emergency Medical Services, Central Denmark Region, Denmark. It has been decided to implement video streaming gradually to allow for this cluster randomized study. Because video streaming is a deemed part of the standard operating procedure (SOP), ethical approval from our local ethical committee is waived. After the study period, video streaming will be implemented in the current control group as the decision to use video streaming as SOP has already been decided.

Conditions

Emergency Medical Dispatch Centre; Video Streaming; Emergency Call; Prehospital Emergency Medical Services

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: DIAGNOSTIC
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Intervention Group

Intervention group: EMS dispatcher using video-based communication in emergency calls.

In the intervention arm, the EMS Dispatchers are requested to use video in all emergency calls during the 4-month study period.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Video streaming (smartphone camera)

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Adding video streaming as a technical adjunct to the otherwise audio-based-only communication during emergency medical dispatch

Control Group

Control group: EMS dispatcher using telephone-only (audio-only) communication in emergency calls.

In the control arm, the EMS Dispatchers continue using standard telephone communication (usual care).

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Telephone (telephone microphone)

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Usual care: Audio-based-only communication using telephone during emergency medical dispatch

Interventions

Video streaming (smartphone camera)

Adding video streaming as a technical adjunct to the otherwise audio-based-only communication during emergency medical dispatch

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Telephone (telephone microphone)

Usual care: Audio-based-only communication using telephone during emergency medical dispatch

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Emergency call to the EMS dispatcher in the EMDC
• EMS dispatcher employed in the total study period
• EMS dispatchers with a completed training period (6 weeks total) at the start of the study period

Exclusion Criteria

• Emergency calls directed to an EMDC physician or technical logistical personnel not using the criteria-based dispatch tool
• non-emergency calls (health care provider requested prehospital transports)
• EMS dispatcher not employed in the total study period
• EMS dispatchers without a completed training period (6 weeks total) at the start of the study period

• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Central Denmark Region

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Martin F Gude, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Prehospital Emergency Medical Service, Central Denmark Region, Denmark

Locations

Prehospital Emegency Medical Service, Central Denmark Region, Denmark

Aarhus N, Central Jutland, Denmark

Countries

Denmark

References

Gude MF, Valentin JB, Meisner-Jensen M, Bohnstedt-Pedersen NH, Dalgaard AK, Vaeggemose U, Blauenfeldt RA. Video Streaming or Telephone Communication During Emergency Medical Services Dispatch Calls: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2025 Jul 1;8(7):e2519020. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.19020.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 40591356 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

Document Type: Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

3436

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id