Brief Summary

In a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial, the effects of an educational intervention will be determined by estimating the uptake of point-of-care ultrasound by general practitioners (outcome P1), change in referral from primary care to secondary care (outcome P2), change in number of consultations delivered in primary care (outcome S1), GPs job satisfaction, level of stress, and burn-out (outcomes S2-4), as well as the number of point-of-care ultrasound related adverse events (outcome S5), a health economic evaluation (outcome S6) and the patient experience of point-of-care ultrasound (outcome S7). Two-hundred general practitioners (GPs) will participate in the study. Participants will be randomized to participate in clusters with a training facility close to their clinic. All participants will be offered the educational intervention. Ten clusters will receive the intervention at different timepoints.

Trial Health

On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment

200

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline

Completed

Started Jan 2023

Typical duration for not_applicable

Geographic Reach

1 country

1 active site

Status

completed

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

Trial Relationships

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Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

2 years study duration

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

September 30, 2022

Completed

3 months until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

January 1, 2023

Completed

24 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 25, 2023

Completed

1.8 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

November 30, 2024

Completed

1 month until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 31, 2024

Completed

Last Updated

March 18, 2025

Status Verified

March 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

1.9 years

First QC Date

September 30, 2022

Last Update Submit

March 17, 2025

Conditions

Point-of-care Ultrasound (POCUS)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

The uptake of the intervention in primary care
The effect on the uptake of POCUS following an educational intervention for general practice clinics will be determined by comparing the number of registered reimbursement codes before the intervention to the number of reimbursement codes registered after the intervention.
months 3- 21
Change in number of referrals for secondary care
The effects of an educational intervention for general practice clinics on the number of referrals send to secondary care specialists, will be determined by comparing the number of registered referrels (number of referrals to hospital or specialist clinics/number of consultations) before the intervention to the number of registered referrals after the intervention.
months 1- 21

Secondary Outcomes (7)

Change in number of consultations in primary care
months 1- 21
Change in GPs' perceived stress
Estimated in each cluster 1 months before the intervention and six months after the intervention
Change in GPs' job satisfaction
Estimated in each cluster 1 months before the intervention and six months after the intervention
Change in GPs' burnout symptoms
Estimated in each cluster 1 months before the intervention and six months after the intervention
Change in healthcare costs
months 1-21
+2 more secondary outcomes

Other Outcomes (3)

Change in GPs' job contentment
Estimated in each cluster 1 months before the intervention and six months after the intervention
GPs' experience of POCUS use
Estimated in each cluster six months after the intervention
GPs' experiences of POCUS' influence
Estimated in each cluster six months after the intervention

Study Arms (10)

Cluster 1

OTHER

Participants are randomised into clusters. Each cluster includes 20 participants. All clusters receive the same educational intervention but at different time-points. Each cluster contributes with both exposed and unexposed outcomes and as such acts as its own control. Cluster one contributes with 3 months unexposed and 18 months exposed outcomes.