NCT06529315

Brief Summary

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a bedside portable ultrasound technique utilized by healthcare providers to offer rapid and non-invasive diagnostic imaging. POCUS has proven particularly effective in critical care and emergency settings. However, its application in general medical wards, where patients often present with multiple comorbidities, remains under-researched. Additionally, the feasibility of nurse practitioners (NPs) performing POCUS is promising. Despite limited research on POCUS by less experienced operators, NP-conducted POCUS could provide timely, high-quality care, especially in situations with limited physician availability. The routine use of POCUS in patient admissions to medical wards may improve diagnostic accuracy, reduce diagnostic resource utilization, and shorten hospital stays.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
144

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
Completed

Started Aug 2024

Shorter than P25 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

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

July 8, 2024

Completed
23 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

July 31, 2024

Completed
1 day until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

August 1, 2024

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

October 25, 2024

Completed
2 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

December 17, 2024

Completed
Last Updated

November 19, 2025

Status Verified

October 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

3 months

First QC Date

July 8, 2024

Last Update Submit

November 16, 2025

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Proportion of accurate diagnosis

    The proportion of accurate physician diagnosis achieved at 48 hours after admission to medical wards

    At 48 hours after admission to medical wards

Secondary Outcomes (5)

  • Hospital mortality

    Until death, hospital discharge or up to 28 days

  • Rate of ICU transfer

    Within 7 days after admission to medical wards

  • Length of hospital stay

    Until death, hospital discharge or up to 28 days

  • Categories and numbers of invasive procedures

    Within 7 days after admission to medical wards

  • Categories and numbers of imaging studies

    Within 7 days after admission to medical wards

Study Arms (2)

Group PoCUS

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants assigned to Group PoCUS will undergo point-of-care ultrasound evaluations by nurse practitioners/physicians within their first 24 hours of admission to the general ward.

Other: Point-of-Care Ultrasound

Group Usual Care

NO INTERVENTION

Participants assigned to Group Usual Care will receive usual standard care.

Interventions

The investigators will use point-of-care ultrasound to exam participants including lungs, heart, liver, spleen, kidney and bladder, etc.

Group PoCUS

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years - 120 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Age 18 years or older
  • Admitted directly from emergency department

You may not qualify if:

  • End-of-life care
  • Immediate need for life-support therapy or ICU transfer
  • Airborne isolation

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

National Taiwan University Hospital

Taipei, 100, Taiwan

Location

Related Publications (17)

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    PMID: 33482873BACKGROUND
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    PMID: 32430108BACKGROUND
  • Arvig MD, Lassen AT, Gaede PH, Gartner SW, Falster C, Skov IR, Petersen HO, Posth S, Laursen CB. Impact of serial cardiopulmonary point-of-care ultrasound exams in patients with acute dyspnoea: a randomised, controlled trial. Emerg Med J. 2023 Oct;40(10):700-707. doi: 10.1136/emermed-2022-212694. Epub 2023 Aug 18.

    PMID: 37595984BACKGROUND
  • Patel S, Green A, Ashokumar S, Hoke A, Rachoin JS. Objective Methods of Assessing Fluid Status to Optimize Volume Management in Kidney Disease and Hypertension: The Importance of Ultrasound. J Clin Med. 2023 Oct 5;12(19):6368. doi: 10.3390/jcm12196368.

    PMID: 37835014BACKGROUND
  • Pontet J, Yic C, Diaz-Gomez JL, Rodriguez P, Sviridenko I, Mendez D, Noveri S, Soca A, Cancela M. Impact of an ultrasound-driven diagnostic protocol at early intensive-care stay: a randomized-controlled trial. Ultrasound J. 2019 Sep 30;11(1):24. doi: 10.1186/s13089-019-0139-2.

    PMID: 31595353BACKGROUND
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    PMID: 26160727BACKGROUND
  • Wang PH, Chen JY, Ling DA, Lee AF, Ko YC, Lien WC, Huang CH. Earlier point-of-care ultrasound, shorter length of stay in patients with acute flank pain. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2022 Apr 21;30(1):29. doi: 10.1186/s13049-022-01017-1.

    PMID: 35449010BACKGROUND
  • Riishede M, Lassen AT, Baatrup G, Pietersen PI, Jacobsen N, Jeschke KN, Laursen CB. Point-of-care ultrasound of the heart and lungs in patients with respiratory failure: a pragmatic randomized controlled multicenter trial. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2021 Apr 26;29(1):60. doi: 10.1186/s13049-021-00872-8.

    PMID: 33902667BACKGROUND
  • Mozzini C, Di Dio Perna M, Pesce G, Garbin U, Fratta Pasini AM, Ticinesi A, Nouvenne A, Meschi T, Casadei A, Soresi M, Cominacini L. Lung ultrasound in internal medicine efficiently drives the management of patients with heart failure and speeds up the discharge time. Intern Emerg Med. 2018 Jan;13(1):27-33. doi: 10.1007/s11739-017-1738-1. Epub 2017 Aug 12.

    PMID: 28803375BACKGROUND
  • Fraleigh CDM, Duff E. Point-of-care ultrasound: An emerging clinical tool to enhance physical assessment. Nurse Pract. 2022 Aug 1;47(8):14-20. doi: 10.1097/01.NPR.0000841944.00536.b2.

    PMID: 35877142BACKGROUND
  • Manno E, Navarra M, Faccio L, Motevallian M, Bertolaccini L, Mfochive A, Pesce M, Evangelista A. Deep impact of ultrasound in the intensive care unit: the "ICU-sound" protocol. Anesthesiology. 2012 Oct;117(4):801-9. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0b013e318264c621.

    PMID: 22990179BACKGROUND
  • Bernier-Jean A, Albert M, Shiloh AL, Eisen LA, Williamson D, Beaulieu Y. The Diagnostic and Therapeutic Impact of Point-of-Care Ultrasonography in the Intensive Care Unit. J Intensive Care Med. 2017 Mar;32(3):197-203. doi: 10.1177/0885066615606682. Epub 2016 Jul 9.

    PMID: 26423745BACKGROUND
  • Atkinson PR, Milne J, Diegelmann L, Lamprecht H, Stander M, Lussier D, Pham C, Henneberry R, Fraser JM, Howlett MK, Mekwan J, Ramrattan B, Middleton J, van Hoving DJ, Peach M, Taylor L, Dahn T, Hurley S, MacSween K, Richardson LR, Stoica G, Hunter S, Olszynski PA, Lewis DA. Does Point-of-Care Ultrasonography Improve Clinical Outcomes in Emergency Department Patients With Undifferentiated Hypotension? An International Randomized Controlled Trial From the SHoC-ED Investigators. Ann Emerg Med. 2018 Oct;72(4):478-489. doi: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2018.04.002. Epub 2018 Jun 2.

    PMID: 29866583BACKGROUND
  • Yamada T, Ehara J, Funakoshi H, Endo K, Kitano Y. Effectiveness of point of care ultrasound (POCUS) simulation course and skills retention for Japanese nurse practitioners. BMC Nurs. 2023 Jan 23;22(1):21. doi: 10.1186/s12912-023-01183-2.

    PMID: 36691022BACKGROUND
  • Huang C, Morone C, Parente J, Taylor S, Springer C, Doyle P, Temin E, Shokoohi H, Liteplo A. Advanced practice providers proficiency-based model of ultrasound training and practice in the ED. J Am Coll Emerg Physicians Open. 2022 Jan 11;3(1):e12645. doi: 10.1002/emp2.12645. eCollection 2022 Feb.

    PMID: 35036994BACKGROUND
  • Teare MD, Dimairo M, Shephard N, Hayman A, Whitehead A, Walters SJ. Sample size requirements to estimate key design parameters from external pilot randomised controlled trials: a simulation study. Trials. 2014 Jul 3;15:264. doi: 10.1186/1745-6215-15-264.

    PMID: 24993581BACKGROUND
  • Lee SH, Yun SJ. Diagnostic performance of emergency physician-performed point-of-care ultrasonography for acute appendicitis: A meta-analysis. Am J Emerg Med. 2019 Apr;37(4):696-705. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2018.07.025. Epub 2018 Jul 14.

    PMID: 30017693BACKGROUND

Study Officials

  • Chun-Ta Huang, MD

    National Taiwan University Hospital

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Clinical Associate Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

July 8, 2024

First Posted

July 31, 2024

Study Start

August 1, 2024

Primary Completion

October 25, 2024

Study Completion

December 17, 2024

Last Updated

November 19, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-10

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations