Telementoring Intervention for Diagnostic Imaging Clinicians

Overseen By Eduardo Bruera

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Leadership role, Previous ECHO participation

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 13

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a program called ECHO, a telementoring intervention, to determine if it can improve collaboration and connection among diagnostic imaging clinicians. The program includes team meetings designed to enhance communication and efficiency among doctors who typically have limited interaction. Participants will begin these meetings immediately or after a 13-week wait. The trial seeks diagnostic imaging clinicians from MD Anderson who do not hold leadership roles and have not participated in similar programs. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to enhance professional collaboration and personal growth.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify whether participants must stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that this telementoring intervention is safe for diagnostic imaging clinicians?

Research shows that telementoring programs like Project ECHO are generally safe. These programs help healthcare providers learn and share knowledge. Studies have found that having safety plans and procedures is important, and there are no reports of serious safety issues. This suggests that using ECHO for training does not pose risks to participants.

In other words, joining a trial with ECHO telementoring is well-tolerated and safe, according to strong evidence. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Telementoring Intervention (ECHO) because it introduces a novel way for diagnostic imaging clinicians to receive continuous professional development. Unlike traditional training methods, which often require in-person attendance and can disrupt clinicians' schedules, ECHO offers flexibility through remote mentoring sessions. This approach allows for real-time, interactive learning and support, potentially improving diagnostic accuracy and professional confidence without the need for travel or extensive time away from clinical duties. The ECHO model could revolutionize how ongoing education is delivered, making it more accessible and tailored to individual needs.

What evidence suggests that the ECHO telementoring intervention is effective for diagnostic imaging clinicians?

Research has shown that the ECHO telementoring model effectively increases healthcare providers' knowledge and confidence. It connects them with specialists through online meetings, helping them manage various health conditions. This trial will test the ECHO telementoring model in two different arms. Participants in Arm A will attend ECHO telementoring sessions for 1 hour weekly over 13 weeks. Meanwhile, participants in Arm B will wait for 13 weeks before attending the sessions. In previous cases, participants gained skills and felt more prepared to handle complex medical situations after attending these sessions. These interactions have supported professional growth and improved team efficiency. ^{1 3 4 5 6}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Eduardo Bruera

Principal Investigator

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for diagnostic imaging clinicians at MD Anderson without leadership roles and who haven't been in an ECHO clinic before. It's focused on those looking to improve engagement, efficiency, and community through team meetings.

Inclusion Criteria

Faculty must be diagnostic imaging clinicians with a primary appointment in the Division of Diagnostic Imaging at MD Anderson

Exclusion Criteria

Faculty that have an official leadership role (Division Head or Department Chair)

Faculty that have previously participated in any previous live ECHO clinic or ECHO activity

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

ECHO Telementoring Sessions

Participants attend ECHO telementoring sessions over 1 hour weekly

13 weeks

13 virtual sessions

Wait-list

Participants are placed on a wait-list before attending sessions

13 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in burnout and health status

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Telementoring Intervention (ECHO)

Trial Overview The study tests the ECHO telementoring intervention's effectiveness in enhancing professional interaction, work efficiency, and community among physicians across different locations using team meetings.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Arm B (wait-list, ECHO telementoring) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Participants are placed on a wait-list for 13 weeks and then attend ECHO telementoring sessions over 1 hour weekly for 13 weeks.

Group II: Arm A (ECHO telementoring) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants attend ECHO telementoring sessions over 1 hour weekly for 13 weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

3,107

Recruited

1,813,000+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Project ECHO model has effectively expanded access to specialized cancer care over the past 10 years, with a review of 25 studies showing widespread participation and improved learning among healthcare providers.

Nearly half of the studies indicated that ECHO programs led to changes in provider practices, particularly in areas like HCV vaccination and palliative care, suggesting the model's potential to enhance clinical outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Project ECHO for Cancer Care: a Scoping Review of Provider Outcome Evaluations. Arora, S., Brakey, HR., Jones, JL., et al.[2023]

Citations

1. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-neoplasms-8-2020-a296a

Telementoring Intervention for Diagnostic Imaging Clinicians Research shows that the ECHO telementoring model has been effective in improving healthcare providers' knowledge and confidence in managing various conditions, ...

2. ctv.veeva.com ctv.veeva.com/study/telementoring-intervention-echo-for-the-transformation-of-professional-engagement-practice-effici

Telementoring Intervention (ECHO) for the Transformation of ... It may also help diagnostic imaging clinicians engage more effectively with colleagues at distant sites and become more engaged with their work.

3. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12080353/

A short-duration telementoring pain management ... We collected pre- and post-knowledge and self-efficacy scores from 15 of 18 unique ECHO participants (83% response rate). We derived opioid ...

4. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06451458?cond=Endocrinology&locStr=United+States&country=United+States&aggFilters=status:%2Cages:adult

ECHO for Diabetes and Multiple Chronic Conditions Study ECHO is a "telementoring" program that trains healthcare teams to provide specialized medical care at their local clinics. This is done by connecting healthcare ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211419X2200060X

Feasibility of project ECHO telementoring to build capacity ... This report describes the implementation of Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), a telementoring platform originally designed to extend ...

6. ahrq.gov ahrq.gov/patient-safety/settings/multiple/project-echo/index.html

Project ECHO | Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality A collaborative model of medical education and care management that helps clinicians provide expert-level care to patients wherever they live.