Simulation Training to Improve 911 Dispatcher Identification of Cardiac Arrest

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study is to test the use of simulation training to improve 9-1-1 telecommunicators' call processing and response. Training sessions will expose 9-1-1 telecommunicators to several realistic emergency situations through mock 9-1-1 calls with a trained actor playing the part of a reporting party, followed immediately by feedback on call handling provided by a trained call observer. Investigators hypothesize that simulation followed by trained observer-directed feedback will increase correct triage of medical emergency and delivery of pre-arrival instructions during simulated calls and in actual 9-1-1 calls.

Official Title
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Simulation Training to Improve 911 Dispatcher Identification of Cardiac Arrest

Conditions
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Cardiac Arrest

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Telephone simulation training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 9-1-1 call-center call receivers. - Exclusion Criteria: -

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| No Intervention: Control<br>Participants randomized to the control arm receive no telephone simulation training. | |
| Experimental: Simulation Training<br>Participants randomized to the intervention arm receive telephone simulation training. | Behavioral: Telephone simulation training<br>* The intervention consists of four 20-minute telephone simulation training sessions over a 4 month period (one session each month). Each 20-minute training session will include 3 simulated 9-1-1 calls, performed by a standardized caller (trained actor) and feedback will be provided right away by a trained observer who takes notes during the simulation calls and discusses the teaching points after the session. In total, the 9-1-1 dispatchers will receive 12 different simulated calls.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in elapsed seconds from call answer to start of telephone-cardiopulmonary resuscitation (T-CPR) instructions in cardiac arrest calls in simulations and in actual calls. |  | Once monthly over 4 months (during simulations); at event (actual cardiac arrest 9-1-1 call) over 12 months. | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in proportion of calls with querying behaviors compliant with the all-callers interviewing protocol. |  | Once monthly over 4 months (during simulations); at event (actual cardiac arrest 9-1-1 call) over 12 months. |