Effectiveness of a Computer Application in Improving Pulmonary Artery Catheter Waveform Interpretation

Not Applicable

Terminated

• Conditions: Pulmonary Artery Catheter Waveform Interpretation
• Interventions: Device: Web-based waveform interpretation guide

• Registration Number: NCT00138073
• Lead Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Brief Summary

Skill with pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) waveform interpretation is inadequate among physicians and nurses. We, the investigators at Massachusetts General Hospital, have developed a web-based computer program to assist physicians and nurses in PAC waveform interpretation. We will study the effectiveness of this program on improving the interpretation of waveforms on a computer-based test.

Detailed Description

The pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) guides diagnosis and treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU), but studies have shown that physicians and nurses collectively have inadequate skill in interpreting PAC waveforms. We have developed a Web-based application that provides physicians and nurses with rapid access to relevant PAC-related content for use in patient care situations. The application begins with a visual index that assists clinicians in the recognition of both normal and abnormal waveforms and provides waveform-specific links to concise advice on making accurate pressure measurements, troubleshooting system problems, and avoiding complications of catheter use. Initial evaluation will consist of a before-and-after trial to determine whether the application improves test performance in the areas of waveform recognition, accuracy of measurement, and appropriateness of action. Once the resource is in production, we will electronically log usage and survey users to evaluate the extent and effect of actual utilization.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2005-08-26
• Study First Submitted QC: 2005-08-29
• Study First Posted: 2005-08-30
• Study Start: 2005-12
• Primary Completion: 2012-04
• Study Completion: 2012-04
• Results First Submitted: 2014-03-24
• Status Verified: 2014-05
• Results First Submitted QC: 2014-05-29
• Last Update Submitted: 2014-05-29
• Results First Posted: 2014-06-30
• Last Update Posted: 2014-06-30

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: TERMINATED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 55

Inclusion Criteria

• Critical care nurses
• House officers rotating through the medical Intensive Care Unit
• Fellows rotating through the medical Intensive Care Unit

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Web-based waveform interpretation guide	Web-based waveform interpretation guide	The arm has access to the Web-based waveform interpretation guide.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Score on a Computer-based Test on Pulmonary Artery Catheter Waveform Interpretation	1 month	The study was terminated before the primary outcome could be measured. None of the participants took the post-intervention test.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Individual and Collective Frequency of Use and Usage Patterns of the Web-based Waveform Interpretation Guide	1 year	The study was terminated before the secondary outcome could be measured. Usage data was not collected over the following year.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Massachusetts General Hospital; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States