NCT05534243

Brief Summary

The investigators will screen all mechanically ventilated ED patients for study eligibility and will enroll all consecutive patients satisfying inclusion and exclusion criteria. The study design is a pragmatic, multicenter, stepped wedge cluster randomized trial, enrolling at five sites over a 3-year period, divided into six time periods of six months. Prior to the study, each site will be randomized to their position within the design. One site will cross to the intervention period (i.e. succinylcholine as default neuromuscular blocker) every six months from the 2nd to 6th time period. Cluster order will be determined by computer-based randomization. To begin, each site will be exposed to control conditions; by the end of the study, each site will be exposed to intervention conditions. Patients in the control phase will receive usual care, and this phase will be entirely observational. After six months, a site will enter a 2-month transition phase. In this phase, the investigators will implement the intervention, similar to how they have implemented other ED-based interventions for mechanically ventilated patients. The investigators will engage and educate ED clinicians on the importance of AWP prevention and the study objectives. The intervention framework relies on the use of "nudges", without restricting choice. The use of neuromuscular blockers (i.e. "paralytic" medications) is already part of routine care in the ED in order to facilitate endotracheal intubation and initiation of mechanical ventilation for patients with acute respiratory failure. The two most common neuromuscular blockers used in the ED are succinylcholine and rocuronium. The preliminary data show a strong association between rocuronium (a longer-acting neuromuscular blocker) use and AWP. Therefore, this study aims to improve care by educating caregivers on AWP and the use of the neuromuscular blockers, which are already routinely used, and studying that process in a rigorous fashion. The default neuromuscular blocker in the intervention phase will be succinylcholine. Succinylcholine will be the default over rocuronium because: 1) it has safely been the default neuromuscular blocker of choice in the ED for \>40 years ; 2) its 5-minute duration of action greatly reduces AWP risk; 3) the preliminary data regarding an increased risk of AWP with rocuronium and 4) ED rocuronium use has increased despite no patient-centered studies showing benefit over succinylcholine. Passive alerts (i.e. graphics, pocket cards) will also be strategically placed in the ED, and active alerts will be used as reminders before every nursing shift (i.e. "the huddle"). After this transition phase, the site will begin the intervention phase, and patients will again receive clinician-directed care, just after the intervention.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
3,090

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
16mo left

Started Jun 2023

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

4 active sites

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress68%
Jun 2023Sep 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 2, 2022

Completed
7 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

September 9, 2022

Completed
10 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 28, 2023

Completed
3.7 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

March 1, 2027

Expected
6 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

September 1, 2027

Last Updated

March 12, 2026

Status Verified

March 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

3.7 years

First QC Date

September 2, 2022

Last Update Submit

March 9, 2026

Conditions

Keywords

AwarenessParalysisEmergancy DepartmentRocuroniumMechanical VentilationIntubation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • The prevention of Awareness with Paralysis, as assessed by the modified Brice questionnaire.

    The modified Brice questionnaire will be used in this trial.

    up to 30 days

Secondary Outcomes (6)

  • PTSD symptoms

    30 days

  • PTSD symptoms

    180 days

  • Depression and Anxiety

    30 days

  • Depression and Anxiety

    180 days

  • Health Related Quality of Life (QOL)

    30 days

  • +1 more secondary outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Before group

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Mechanically ventilated emergency department patients receiving standard neuromuscular blockers prior to an educational initiative on the importance of ED-based targeted shorter acting neuromuscular blocker.

Other: Standard neuromuscular blocker practices

After group

EXPERIMENTAL

Mechanically ventilated emergency department patients receiving neuromuscular blockers after an educational initiative aimed at improving use of shorter acting neuromuscular blocker practices in the ED.

Behavioral: Education

Interventions

Usual care neuromuscular blocker in the ED

Before group
EducationBEHAVIORAL

Nurses and physicians will be engaged regarding the clinical outcome data on the importance of shorter acting neuromuscular blockers, and the objectives of the research. Education will include in-services and lectures focused on the importance of neuromuscular blocker protocols on patient outcome. The use of neuromuscular blokers will be evaluated throughout the study in order to better understand providers' perception of and experience with ED-based neuromuscular blocker protocols.

After group

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Mechanical ventilation via an endotracheal tube
  • Age ≥ 18 years
  • Treatment with a neuromuscular blocker (for endotracheal intubation or during the post-intubation phase of care)

You may not qualify if:

  • Acute or chronic neurologic injury with deficit that prevents assessment of AWP (i.e. stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, cardiac arrest, severe dementia)
  • Death before extubation
  • Transfer to another hospital from the ED

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (4)

Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine

Iowa City, Iowa, 52242, United States

RECRUITING

Hennepin Healthcare

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415, United States

RECRUITING

Cooper University Hospital/Cooper Medical School of Rowan University

Camden, New Jersey, 08103, United States

RECRUITING

University of Washington School of Medicine

Seattle, Washington, 98195, United States

RECRUITING

Related Publications (1)

  • Fuller BM, Driver BE, Roberts MB, Schorr CA, Thompson K, Faine B, Yeary J, Mohr NM, Pappal RD, Stephens RJ, Yan Y, Johnson NJ, Roberts BW. Awareness with paralysis and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder among mechanically ventilated emergency department survivors (ED-AWARENESS-2 Trial): study protocol for a pragmatic, multicenter, stepped wedge cluster randomized trial. Trials. 2023 Nov 25;24(1):753. doi: 10.1186/s13063-023-07764-5.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Stress Disorders, Post-TraumaticParalysis

Interventions

Educational Status

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Stress Disorders, TraumaticTrauma and Stressor Related DisordersMental DisordersNeurologic ManifestationsNervous System DiseasesSigns and SymptomsPathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Socioeconomic FactorsPopulation Characteristics

Study Officials

  • Brian Fuller, MD

    Washington University School of Medicine

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Brian Fuller, MD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NON RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE CARE
Intervention Model
CROSSOVER
Model Details: Multicenter, stepped wedge, cluster randomized trial
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology (Critical Care Medicine) and Emergency Medicine

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

September 2, 2022

First Posted

September 9, 2022

Study Start

June 28, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

March 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2027

Last Updated

March 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-03

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

We will consider sharing IPD upon reasonable request

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
Time Frame
Starting 6 months after all publications related to the data.
Access Criteria
Can be obtained by contacting the study PI.

Locations