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Children's Automated Respiration Monitor (ChARM) for Child Pneumonia Diagnosis by Community Health Workers in Mali

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Acute Respiratory Infection
Interventions
Device: Children's Automated Respiration Monitor (ChARM)
Registration Number
NCT03457519
Lead Sponsor
Diego Bassani
Brief Summary

The primary objective of this study is to estimate the impact of a self-monitoring tool (ChARM), used as a teaching/monitoring device, on the CHWs respiratory rate counting accuracy when assessing children under the age of 5 years with suspected pneumonia symptoms.

Detailed Description

Methodology:

The study is designed as a community based, cluster randomized, pragmatic, intervention trial. It will be conducted within the existing 2016-2020 project structure. Specifically, the intervention will evaluate the potential of the ChARM device to improve CHWs competency in counting respiratory rate and diagnose pneumonia more accurately in children under 5 years presenting with symptoms in remote areas.

Intervention Group A - Community Health Workers (CHWs) (Basic training in CHW curriculum, ChARM training and 8-month application of the ChARM device, self-monitoring, direct observation and review of CHW routine monthly reports and drug supply sheets): 8 months, March- November 2018.

Intervention Group B - Community Health Workers (Basic training in CHW curriculum, ChARM training and 4-month application of the ChARM device, self-monitoring, direct observation and review of CHW routine monthly reports and drug supply sheets): 8 months,March- November 2018.

Control Group C - Community Health Workers (Basic training in CHW curriculum, direct observation and CHW routine monthly reports and drug supply sheets): 8 months, March- November 2018.

CHW and Field Monitor In-depth interviews - November 2018

Data analysis and report writing - December 2018-January 2019

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
141
Inclusion Criteria
  • • Be currently providing iCCM services on a full-time basis to the populations they are serving.

    • Have completed the Malian Ministry of Health basic community health care worker training provided as part of the 2016-2020 Strengthening Maternal, Newborn and Child Health project.
    • Are using a device (a respiratory timer) as part of their basic MoH training package, or have a cell phone to use to count the respiratory rates of children under five with suspected symptoms of pneumonia.
    • Be willing to participate in a trial to study the impact of using ChARM as a self-monitoring tool to improve the capacity to detect pneumonia.
Exclusion Criteria
  • • CHWs in conflict ridden geographical areas within the district or not, providing consistent services on a full-time basis to the populations they are serving.

    • CHWs not willing to participate in the trial.
    • CHWs who do not have a device (watch, respiratory timer or cell phone) to support measurement of respiratory rates and who are not routinely counting respiratory rate to diagnose suspected pneumonia.
    • CHWs who did not complete the MoH basic training for CHWs provided through the 2016-2020 Strengthening Maternal, Newborn and Child Health program

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention Group AChildren's Automated Respiration Monitor (ChARM)CHWs trained in ChARM and using ChARM as a self-monitoring tool for 8 months while counting respiratory rate of children under 5 visually using a timer. Intervention: The Children's Respiration Monitor (also known as ChARM) device is routinely used to diagnose Pneumonia cases but in this study it will be used as a self-monitoring and teaching aide for strengthening CHWs skills.
Intervention Group BChildren's Automated Respiration Monitor (ChARM)CHWs trained in ChARM and using ChARM as a self-monitoring tool for 4 months while counting respiratory rate of children under 5 visually using a time; then discontinue using ChARM and continue to monitor the respiratory rate visually using a timer only for the remaining 4 months. Intervention: The Children's Respiration Monitor (also known as ChARM) device is routinely used to diagnose Pneumonia cases but in this study it will be used as a self-monitoring and teaching aide for strengthening CHWs skills.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) Case fatality rate8 months

Acute Respiratory Illness (ARI) Case fatality rate defined as number of deaths from respiratory infections among children diagnosed with respiratory infections

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Proportion of suspected pneumonia cases in the community who sought care from a CHW8 months

Proportion of self-referenced pneumonia cases in the community (via household survey) who report seeking care from a CHW

Accuracy in drug management and procurement requests8 months

Percent of CHW with no stock-outs in the last 4 months

Respiratory rate counting accuracy8 months

Respiratory rate is defined as the number of breaths taken per minute

Proportion of pneumonia cases detected and treated by CHWs8 months

Proportion of pneumonia cases detected by the CHWs that are treated by CHWs

Proportion of suspected severe pneumonia cases referred by CHWs to the CSCom8 months

Proportion of all suspected severe pneumonia cases identified by the CHWs (based on presence of fever and increased respiratory rates for age) referred by CHWs to the CSCom

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

iCCM Sites

🇲🇱

Koulikoro, Mali

iCCM sites

🇲🇱

Banamba, Koulikoro, Mali

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