NCT07497490

A Study of the Time to Diagnosis by Hand-held Abdominal Ultrasound in In-patient Settings

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 225 (actual)
• Sponsor: National Taiwan University Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The goal of this study is to investigate the impact of integrating handheld abdominal ultrasound into the current gastroenterology and hepatology consultation model at our hospital, particularly in terms of the speed of diagnostic evaluation and the impact of hospital length of stay.

Detailed description

The utilization of handheld ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of acute diseases has been practiced for many years, and in certain scenarios, its efficacy is comparable to that of traditional ultrasound. The portability and real-time bedside application of handheld ultrasound have made it increasingly significant in the clinical practice of subspecialties such as cardiovascular, thoracic, and hepato- gastroenterology. Consequently, the use of handheld ultrasound during hospitalizations or emergencies may shorten the time required for accurate diagnosis, enabling patients to receive timely treatment. To investigate the impact of integrating handheld abdominal ultrasound into the current gastroenterology and hepatology consultation model at our hospital, particularly in terms of the speed of diagnostic evaluation and the commencement of treatment. This study employs a prospective design with an anticipated enrollment of 200 patients over approximately one year (December 2024 to November 2025). A clustered-randomized controlled trial design will be used to fit real-world clinical scenario, with participants allocated to either an intervention group (current consultation model supplemented with handheld ultrasound) or a control group by odd/even-numbered calendar days. The primary outcome will be the speed of diagnostic imaging between the two groups. Secondary outcomes will include other indicators of inpatient care quality, such as length of hospital stay and diagnostic accuracy.

Conditions

• Abdominal Diseases

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	Portable Ultrasound	A handheld portable ultrasound sponsored by Aco Healthcare Co., Ltd company

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-12-15
• Primary completion: 2025-07-31
• Completion: 2025-11-30
• First posted: 2026-03-27
• Last updated: 2026-03-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Taiwan