Understanding the Cognition and Decision Making of Community Anesthesiologists

NCT04195178 | Completed Results

• 1 other identifier: 181711
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 154
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The investigators are interested in studying why experienced clinicians make specific decisions regarding the monitoring of patients' physiological states and why clinicians might make decisions that are contrary to current best practices or known evidence. More generally, the program objective is to refine and validate a novel methodology to delineate clinicians' decision-making strategies. More specifically, the investigators will study the decision to reverse neuromuscular blockade at the end of an anesthetic. This clinical decision will be studied in this project because: 1) it has been well documented that a substantial percentage of practitioners do not follow best practices; 2) the variables are relatively circumscribed and well described; and 3) it can be framed as a binary decision. The investigators propose to conduct an observational mixed-methods study developing and using clinical vignettes and cognitive interviews to better understand the decision-making approaches and preferences of clinically active anesthesia providers with regard to their decision-making during clinical anesthesia cases. After developing clinical vignettes and related questions, the investigators will first obtain detailed demographic and clinical practice variables from the participants via a survey. Participants will then review multiple vignettes that present different clinical situations that focus on decisions to reverse neuromuscular blockade and/or extubate the patient. Each participant will provide their decisions for each vignette. The investigators will then conduct an audiotaped interview, using cognitive task analysis methods, to ascertain the factors that played a role in these decisions.

Conditions

Neuromuscular Blockade

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Accuracy on 9-item NMMR Knowledge Test

  Percent correct on 9-item test of evidence-based knowledge about neuromuscular monitoring and reversal

  Day of enrollment only

• Confidence in NMMR Knowledge

  % confidence (0-100) in the correctness of participant's response on the knowledge test

  Day of enrollment

Study Arms (1)

Anesthesia Providers

Clinically active anesthesia providers

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 21 Years - 80 Years
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Clinically active anesthesia providers

You may qualify if:

• Clinically active experienced anesthesia providers

You may not qualify if:

• Anesthesia providers who are no longer practicing or clinically active

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Pittsburgh: collaborator
• The Cooper Health System: collaborator
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center: lead

Study Sites (1)

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37203, United States

Location

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Matthew B Weinger, MD
• Organization: Vanderbilt University Medical Center

matt.weinger@vumc.org

615-936-6598

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: OTHER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: November 30, 2019
• First Posted: December 11, 2019
• Study Start: August 3, 2023
• Primary Completion: December 31, 2024
• Study Completion: December 31, 2024
• Last Updated: February 13, 2026
• Results First Posted: February 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Locations

US (1)