Clinical trial NCT04621214: Innovation of Audio-Visual Triage System in Combating the Spread of COVID-19 Infection and Its Efficacy: A Novel Strategy
Official title: Innovation of Audio-Visual Triage System in Combating the Spread of COVID-19 Infection and Its Efficacy: A Novel Strategy
Study type: OBSERVATIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Conditions: Audio-Visual Triage System
Anxiety Levels
COVID-19 Spread
GAD-7 Score
Healthcare Professionals
Screening Strategy
Lead sponsor: University of Lahore
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2020-11-09
Enrollment: 60
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 20
Maximum age (years): 38
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Observational model: CASE_ONLY
Time perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL
Sampling method: NON_PROBABILITY_SAMPLE
Study population: Asymptomatic Healthy

Brief summary: During the novel coronavirus pandemic, also known as SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 pandemic, frontline healthcare professionals suffered psychological as well as pathological trauma due to the lack of preparation to cope with this unforeseen situation. The protocols to prevent the spread of this disease proved to be less effective than anticipated. In these circumstances, improvement of the existing triage system was felt and an AUDIO-VISUAL TRIAGE (AVT) system was introduced to enhance confidence as well as increase the safety of frontline healthcare professionals. The current analysis was performed from March 21, 2020, to April 28, 2020, until the completion of sixty response forms, at Bahria Town International Hospital, Lahore. Thirty participants (Group A) deployed on visual triage and other thirty (Group B) on Audio-Visual triage for screening suspected cases of COVID-19 infection. Anxiety levels were measured by using the GAD-7 scoring system and the participants of both groups were periodically tested for COVID-19 infection by PCR. Independent t-test was used to evaluate the significance of different variables at a confidence level of 95%.

Detailed description: A novel strategy 'Audio-Visual Triage' was introduced to boost up the confidence levels, lower down the anxiety levels and the most important factor is to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection spread. This Triage system included Audio system to communicate with patients and access the COVID-19 infection status at recommended distance of 6 feet. The main disturbing factors that were noted on Visual triage system were, 1). Close contact of healthcare professionals with patients and attends, 2). Fear of transmission of infection lead to higher levels of anxiety. To assess the efficiency of AVT Anxiety level were analyzed by using Spitzer et al., 2006, General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scoring system and outcomes were assessed where a score less than 5 is taken as no anxiety, 5-9 interpreted as mild anxiety, 10-14 moderate anxiety, and ≥ 15 as severe anxiety levels.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Participants performing their duty on visual triage.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Those participants having previous psychological illness, frequently used to use the washroom, had non-serious attitude and poor compliance with the protocols of wearing PPEs were excluded from the study.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus
timeFrame: 12-24 hours
measure: General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scoring system
timeFrame: 15 - 20 minutes
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Lahore
country: Pakistan
facility: The University of Lahore
state: Punjab
Study officials:
References: