A Training Program of Drug Allergy for Healthcare Professionals

The University of Hong Kong (HKU)

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Drug Allergy

Treatments: Other: Drug allergy training program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06399601

Drugallergy

Details and patient eligibility

About

Drug allergy is often under-recognized, yet over- (mistakenly) diagnosed, especially in Hong Kong. There is also a dire shortage of allergy specialists and facilities to tackle the overwhelming drug allergy pandemic. Fortunately, when trained, non-specialist physicians and nurses have demonstrated comparable capabilities in drug allergy evaluation compared to specialists. To potentially promote and propagate the role of non-specialist physicians and nurses toward drug allergy care, the investigators propose a study to investigate the impact of an intensive and focused drug allergy educational course conducted at the University of Hong Kong.

Full description

Two identical didactic courses on drug allergy were designed. Each course will last 12 hours and conducted over 2 consecutive days (6 hours each day). All candidates will attend physically and on-site. Various aspects of drug allergy with pre-set learning objectives will be taught in-person by instructors (physicians or nurses specializing in drug allergy nominated by the University of Hong Kong). Course materials and instructors will be identical for each course.

Aims of the study Primary objective

• Investigate the change in knowledge among participants of a 2-day drug allergy educational course
• Investigate the change in clinical practice among participants of a 2-day drug allergy educational course

Secondary objectives

• Investigate the sustained change(s) in knowledge (if any) of participants of a 2-day drug allergy educational course
• Investigate the sustained change(s) in clinical practice (if any) of participants of a 2-day drug allergy educational course

Hypothesis The investigators hypothesize that candidates (practicing physicians and nurses) of the drug allergy course will gain knowledge on drug allergy, which in turn will influence and change their clinical practice.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Registered nurses or doctors actively practicing in Hong Kong
• English speaking;
• Able to complete quizzes and questionnaires;
• Aged 18 or above

Exclusion criteria

• People who are unable to communicate in Cantonese or Mandarin
• People who are participating in other drug allergy training course

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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100 participants in 2 patient groups

Intervention group

Experimental group

Description:

wo identical didactic courses on drug allergy will be delivered. Changes in knowledge and clinical practice will be measured by serial practice questionnaires and knowledge quizzes conducted before and after the course. Group 1 will undergo the course first.

Treatment:

Other: Drug allergy training program

Control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Group 2 will undergo an identical course one month later. By comparing any changes in knowledge or practice between groups, this ensures that any changes in knowledge or practice were solely due to the course and not other external factors.

Treatment:

Other: Drug allergy training program