This is a randomized clinical trial that evaluates the impact of using an internet-based checklist for systematic assessment of patients reporting respiratory complaints with the conventional assessment, without using the checklist.
This is a randomized clinical trial that evaluates the impact of using an internet-based checklist for systematic assessment of patients reporting respiratory complaints with the conventional assessment, without using the checklist. Study setting: emergency department related acute evaluation outpatient clinic Inclusion criteria: 18 years of age or older; patients presenting to the ED reporting cough or dyspnea; Exclusion criteria: acute respiratory failure; SpO2 \< 92%; any signs of hemodynamic or respiratory instability; possible concurrent diagnosis requiring immediate assessment (e.g..: acute coronary syndrome or stroke; ) Primary outcome: need of reassessment in the ED or hospitalization within 1 month of index evaluation (intervention). Secondary outcomes: number of complete blood counts ordered in the index evaluation; number of other diagnostic tests ordered in the index evaluation; Randomization: block 1:1; stratified by gender and age (\>50 years old). Masking will be appllied to: patients; outcome assessors; data analysts;
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
39
3 page checklist with suggestions of possible diagnosis according to clinical presentation of patients presenting with dyspnea or cough; also suggests diagnostic tests that are likely to be useful in each situation.
Physician evaluation without the use of checklists
Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Need to visit the emergency department or acute evaluation outpatient clinic
Time frame: 1 month
Complete blood count ordered in the index evaluation
Time frame: 1 month
Number of diagnostic tests ordered in the index evaluation
Time frame: 1 month
Hospital admission
Time frame: 1 month
Antibiotics prescription
Frequency and type of antibiotic prescribed in each study arm
Time frame: 1 month
Major events
Composite endpoint: revisit to emergency department OR hospital admission OR death
Time frame: 1 month
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