Comparison of Web- Versus Classroom-based Basic Ultrasound and Extended Focused Assessment With Sonography for Trauma (EFAST) Training in Two European Hospitals

NCT01040767 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2008-P-002019/1
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 55
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

Study Objective: Training physicians in new skills via classroom-based teaching has inherent costs and time constraints. We sought to evaluate whether web-based didactics result in similar knowledge improvement and retention of basic ultrasound principles and the EFAST (Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma) compared with the traditional method. Methods: Physicians from two German emergency departments were randomized into a classroom group with traditional lectures and a web group that watched narrated lectures online. All participants completed a pre- and post-test, and a second post-test eight weeks later. Both groups underwent hands-on training after the first post-test. A control group completed the two initial tests without didactic intervention.

Conditions

Learning

Keywords

Ultrasound education; Blended learning; Distance education; Trauma ultrasound; FAST

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Mean test scores by didactic group for three consecutive multiple choice tests

  November 2008 - February 2009

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Participant satisfaction with training and reported comfort with ultrasound use after training

  December 2008 - February 2009

Study Arms (3)

Class

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Other: Didactic training in basic ultrasound and the EFAST

Web

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Other: Didactic training in basic ultrasound and the EFAST

Control

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Didactic training in basic ultrasound and the EFAST OTHER

Physicians in the classroom group (class) listened to traditional lectures, while the web group (web) watched narrated lectures online. All participants completed a pre- and post-test, and a second post-test eight weeks later. Both groups underwent hands-on training after the first post-test.

Class; Web

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Physicians currently practicing in a German emergency department
• Age ≥ 18 years

You may not qualify if:

• Inability to participate in all aspects of the study prior to study begin
• Control group: Subjects who did not complete the pre-test

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Brigham and Women's Hospital: lead
• Klinikum Nürnberg: collaborator
• Institut fuer Notfallmedizin Kempten e.V., Germany: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Institut fuer Notfallmedizin e.V.

Kempten (Allgäu), Bavaria, 87435, Germany

Location

Klinikum Nuernberg

Nuremberg, Bavaria, 90419, Germany

Location

Study Officials

• Elke Platz, MD, RDMS

  Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston USA

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 24, 2009
• First Posted: December 30, 2009
• Study Start: November 1, 2008
• Primary Completion: February 1, 2009
• Study Completion: February 1, 2009
• Last Updated: December 30, 2009

Record last verified: 2009-12

Locations

DE (2)