Utility of the History and Physical Exam in the Emergency Department

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01154517
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: July 1, 2010
• Last Update Posted: July 1, 2010
• Sponsor: Henry Ford Health System
• Information provided by: Henry Ford Health System

Tracking Information

• First Submitted Date: June 30, 2010
• First Posted Date: July 1, 2010
• Last Update Posted Date: July 1, 2010
• Study Start Date: July 2009
• Actual Primary Completion Date: June 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
• Current Primary Outcome Measures: Not Provided
• Original Primary Outcome Measures: Not Provided
• Change History: No Changes Posted
• Current Secondary Outcome Measures: Not Provided
• Original Secondary Outcome Measures: Not Provided
• Current Other Pre-specified Outcome Measures: Not Provided
• Original Other Pre-specified Outcome Measures: Not Provided

Descriptive Information

• Brief Title: Utility of the History and Physical Exam in the Emergency Department
• Official Title: Utility of the History and Physical Exam in the Emergency Department
• Brief Summary: The study is trying to prove that the history and physical exam (H&P) in the emergency department is the most important tool in exam of patients. The investigator is attempting to correlate the time of the H&P of residents and attendings to the accuracy of diagnosis.

Detailed Description

The purpose of the study is to examine the utility of the history and physical exam in the emergency room towards obtaining a diagnosis. The goal of this observational study is to correlate physician level of experience and time spent on history and physical exam, to the correct diagnosis.

The aim of this study is:

1. To draw a connection between time and accuracy of the history and physical exam.
2. To draw a connection between time and level of experience as a physician based on post-graduate level.
3. To assess the number of laboratory and radiographic studies and the post-graduate level.
4. To assess the relevance of the labs and radiographs ordered. (Relevance is defined as something that changes plan of care.)

Time is a critical component of the ED physician. Our study will analyse if modern medicine has created a more laboratory/image based need to ascertain a diagnosis or if history and physical examination alone can predict the ultimate diagnosis.

• Study Type: Observational
• Study Design: Time Perspective: Prospective
• Target Follow-Up Duration: Not Provided
• Biospecimen: Not Provided
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample
• Study Population: Emergency Department Patients

Condition

• Abdominal Pain
• Back Pain
• Dyspnea
• Headache
• Weakness

• Intervention: Not Provided
• Study Groups/Cohorts: Not Provided
• Publications *: Not Provided

Recruitment Information

• Recruitment Status: Completed
• Actual Enrollment (submitted: June 30, 2010): 128
• Original Actual Enrollment: Same as current
• Actual Study Completion Date: June 2010
• Actual Primary Completion Date: June 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Anyone over the age of 18 with a generalized complaints able to provide consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Anyone under 18 yrs and anyone with a very specific, system based complaint.

Sex/Gender

• Sexes Eligible for Study: All

• Ages: 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Contacts: Contact information is only displayed when the study is recruiting subjects
• Listed Location Countries: United States

Administrative Information

• NCT Number: NCT01154517
• Other Study ID Numbers: 3617
• Has Data Monitoring Committee: No
• U.S. FDA-regulated Product: Not Provided
• IPD Sharing Statement: Not Provided
• Responsible Party: Peter Lunny, Henry Ford
• Study Sponsor: Henry Ford Health System
• Collaborators: Not Provided

Investigators

• Study Director: Jennifer Stevenson, DO; Henry Ford Macomb

• PRS Account: Henry Ford Health System
• Verification Date: July 2009