Obstetric Life Support Training for Cardiac Arrest in Pregnant Patients

(OBLS Trial)

Overseen By Laurie Kavanagh, MPH

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: UConn Health

Disqualifiers: Pilot-testing participants, Other specialties

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

48 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the Obstetric Life Support Program (OBLS) treatment?

The OBLS program is designed to improve emergency response in obstetric units by providing comprehensive and cost-effective training for healthcare providers. It emphasizes high-quality basic life support and specific interventions for pregnant patients, which are crucial for managing rare but critical events like maternal cardiac arrest. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Obstetric Life Support Training safe for humans?

The available research on Obstetric Life Support Training focuses on improving emergency response skills for healthcare providers, but it does not specifically address safety data for participants. The training is designed to enhance the ability of medical staff to handle emergencies during pregnancy, which suggests it is generally considered safe for healthcare professionals to undergo. ^{1 2 4 5 6}

How is the Obstetric Life Support Program (OBLS) treatment different from other treatments for cardiac arrest in pregnant patients?

The Obstetric Life Support Program (OBLS) is unique because it focuses on simulation-based, multidisciplinary team training specifically for obstetric emergencies, emphasizing skills like uterine displacement and rapid delivery of the fetus during maternal cardiac arrest, which are not typically covered in standard life support courses. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to see if the Obstetric Life Support Program (OBLS) can improve the confidence and skills of healthcare professionals. The program includes online lessons and hands-on training. Participants will be assessed at different stages to measure any improvements. The Obstetric Life Support (ObLS) training program is a method of obstetric nursing and medical staff training that is relevant, comprehensive, and cost-effective.

Research Team

Andrea Shields, MD

Principal Investigator

UConn Health

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for EMS providers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medicine providers, surgeons (OB), anesthesiologists, and nurses in specific departments. Participants must be at least 18 years old and able to communicate in English. Those involved in pilot-testing or from other medical specialties are excluded.

Exclusion Criteria

People from medical specialties not mentioned in the inclusion criteria are not allowed to participate.

Participants included in the pilot-testing sessions

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

Intervention

Participants undergo an electronic curriculum and instructor-led course or placebo, followed by crossover to receive the intervention

Immediately upon completing training

Washout Period 1

Participants undergo a washout period before reassessment

6 months

Reassessment

Participants return for reassessment and participate in simulated medical scenarios

Immediately upon completing training

Washout Period 2

Participants undergo a second washout period before final assessment

6 months

Final Assessment

Participants take the online cognitive assessment again

Immediately upon completing training

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in confidence and knowledge assessment scores

12 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Obstetric Life Support Program (OBLS)

Trial Overview The study is testing the Obstetric Life Support Program's impact on confidence and skills knowledge of healthcare professionals. It involves an electronic curriculum with instructor-led courses compared against a placebo approach.

Participant Groups

Group I: Curriculum and Instructor-Led Course Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants first complete an online cognitive assessment. Once complete, staff email the electronic curriculum for participants to read. On a specific day, participants will go to the designated center to participate in an instructor-led course and simulated medical scenarios and complete megapode and online cognitive assessment. After a washout period of six months, participants return to the designated center to participate in simulated medical scenarios and complete the online cognitive assessment again. After a second washout period of six months, participants will take the online cognitive assessment again.

Group II: Placebo Placebo Group 1 Intervention

On a specific day, participants will go to a designated center to complete an online cognitive assessment and participate in simulated medical scenarios. Once complete, study staff will email the electronic curriculum for participants to read. After a washout period of six months, participants will return to the designated center to participate in an instructor-led course and simulated medical scenarios and complete a megapode and online cognitive assessment. After a second washout period of six months, participants will take an online cognitive assessment again.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

UConn Health

Lead Sponsor

Trials

218

Recruited

59,100+

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Collaborator

Trials

415

Recruited

6,777,000+

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The case for OBLS: a simulation-based obstetric life support program. [2011]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effectiveness of an Obstetrics-Based Advanced Cardiac Life Support Education Program. [2021]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Intrapartum Maternal Cardiac Arrest: A Simulation Case for Multidisciplinary Providers. [2020]

4. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Obstetric life support. [2012]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) program: fourteen years of progress. [2019]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Advanced cardiovascular life support for the obstetric population: bridging the gap. [2013]