Emergency Medicine Pulmonary Embolism Testing Multicentre Study (NCT06320236)
🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)
It is important to diagnose pulmonary embolism in a timely manner to prevent death and long-term disability. More than half a million people (4-5% of emergency department patients) are tested for pulmonary embolism, although the positive rate is low. Imaging for PE testing exposes patients to radiation, is expensive, adds time to the emergency visit, and can lead to a false positive diagnoses. Existing protocols aimed at reducing unnecessary pulmonary embolism imaging are complex and seldom used by emergency physicians. Too many patients undergo unnecessary pulmonary embolism imaging. A new tool (called Adjust-Unlikely) could safely reduce pulmonary embolism imaging in Canada. A research group composed of researchers, emergency physicians, and patients developed the Adjust-Unlikely clinical decision rule: a rule which has been customized for emergency physicians and emergency patients. Adjust-Unlikely is highly sensitive at the bedside, meaning there are very few false negative results. The study aim is to prospectively validate Adjust-Unlikely pulmonary embolism testing in emergency patients with suspected pulmonary embolism.
Who can join: To join this study, participants generally need to meet the listed inclusion criteria (1 items) and avoid the listed exclusions (16 items).
Location: Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation — Hamilton, Ontario
📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener
Instant ChecklistCheck every box below. If you can check all of them, you may meet the study's basic screening requirements (final eligibility is confirmed by the site team).
Usually NOT eligible if any of the following apply:
- Exclusion Criteria:
- Patient is \< 18 years of age
- No documentation of whether PE is the most likely diagnosis
- D-dimer is not tested or else not resulted during the emergency visit
- The D-dimer level is known before documentation of whether PE is the most likely diagnosis
- The D-dimer is ordered prior to the physician assessing the patient
- The patient has previously registered that they opt out of all research at the participating site
- The patient leaves against medical advice
- The patient has had PE or deep vein thrombosis imaging (CT pulmonary angiogram, ventilation-perfusion scan or lower limb ultrasound) within prior 30 days
- There is a new (non-PE) indication for anticoagulation
- The patient was initiated on treatment for presumed PE prior to PE testing
- The patient has previously been enrolled into the study
🔍 Extracted verbatim from the official NIH eligibility criteria. Always confirm with the study coordinator.
📍 All Participating Trial Locations (4 Sites)
- Hamilton Health Sciences Corporation — Hamilton, Ontario
- Kingston Health Sciences Centre — Kingston, Ontario
- London Health Sciences Centre Research Inc — London, Ontario
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute — Ottawa, Ontario
💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights
- 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
- Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
- Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.