Testing of Medication Dosing Software

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this clinical study is to evaluate the clinical efficiency of a medication dosing software in simulated pediatric emergency care. The main questions it aims to answer are: Will the time to patient be significantly reduced with the medication dosage software when compared to standard clinical practice? Will the time to calculate dosage of medications be significantly reduced with the medication dosage software when compared to standard clinical practice? How will users perceive clinical efficiency, ease of use, confidence level of using the medication dosage software when compared to standard clinical practice? How will accuracy of medication dose and volume calculations as well as final volume ready for administration using the medication dosage software compared to standard clinical practice? Will the time spent calculating medication doses by the second healthcare professional on pediatric non-acute and acute care cases be significantly reduced with the medication dosage software when compared to standard clinical practice? Participants will be presented pediatric care scenarios and asked to calculate and prepare intravenous medications under two interventions: the medication dosage software and standard clinical practice (Lexicomp and manual calculator).

Official Title
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Testing of a Medication Dosing Software for Pediatric Emergency Care

Conditions
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Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: Standard practice
* Device: Medication dosing software


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: -Healthcare professionals who have worked or who are currently working at a healthcare facility and involved in the calculation or preparation of IV medication. Exclusion Criteria: Healthcare professionals who cannot read, speak, or understand English or French as the simulations will be conducted in English or French. Performance of physically strenuous activity 30 min prior to study. Physical limitations that affect performance on required tasks (e.g., inability to place arm cuff on mannequin's arm, inability to handle weight estimation and touchscreen devices).

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 60 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: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Software, then Standard<br>Participants will use the medication dosage software to calculate and prepare intravenous medications during the initial run through of pediatric case scenarios. Then, they will use standard clinical practice (Lexicomp and manual calculator) during the second run through of pediatric case scenarios. | Device: Standard practice<br>* Lexicomp and manual calculator<br>Device: Medication dosing software<br>* Medication dosing software<br>|
| Experimental: Standard, then Software<br>Participants will use standard clinical practice (Lexicomp and manual calculator) to calculate and prepare intravenous medications during the initial run through of pediatric case scenarios. Then, they will use the medication dosage software during the second run through of pediatric case scenarios. | Device: Standard practice<br>* Lexicomp and manual calculator<br>Device: Medication dosing software<br>* Medication dosing software<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TIme to patient | Assess the time elapsed from ordering of medication to ready for administration using the medication dosage software compared to the time achieved with standard clinical practice | Through study completion, up to 3 months | 
| Time to calculate | Assess the time to calculate medication dosage using the medication dosage software compared to standard clinical practice | Through study completion, up to 3 months | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feedback | time to calculate medication dosage using the medication dosage software compared to standard clinical practice | Through study completion, up to 3 months | 
| Accuracy | To assess the accuracy of (I) medication dose and volume calculations and (II) final volume ready for administration using the medication dosage software compared to standard clinical practice. | Through study completion, up to 3 months | 
| Time of calculation by second healthcare professional | To assess the time spent calculating medication dosages by the second healthcare professional. | Through study completion, up to 3 months | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Simulation, Pediatric emergency care, Healthcare professionals, Medication errors