Opportunity to Participate in an Expert Panel to Develop a Global Rating Score for
Assessing Safe Practice for Mechanical Ventilation

Study Title: Safe Practice for Mechanical Ventilation: Development of a Global Rating Score and Checklist.

Study Invitation

You are invited to take part in a research study. We are convening a panel of experts in mechanical ventilation to develop a global rating scale and checklist for assessing safe mechanical ventilation. You are being invited to participate in this panel as you are recognized as an expert in mechanical ventilation either through your professional role or as evidenced by peer reviewed publication in this field.

Study Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a global rating scale and checklist that will inform the development of a web-based simulation of mechanical ventilation (The VIRTUAL Ventilator). This simulation will provide a new and innovative way of educating clinicians on the delivery of safe ventilation without risk to patients. Once developed, these tools also will facilitate education and assessment of clinicians of all disciplines responsible for the management of mechanical ventilation in clinical practice.

Procedures

Participation will involve a one hour focus group to identify competence domains essential to provision of safe ventilation, followed by email participation using the Delphi method to achieve consensus on descriptors that categorize learners from novice to expert for the identified domains. On the first survey round you will be asked to generate a list of potential descriptors. Subsequent rounds will involve scoring descriptors in terms of their clarity, suitability and feasibility. At the end of each Delphi round you will receive anonymous summary feedback of responses provided by the panel. All contact will be conducted via email. You will be requested to provide feedback within three weeks of contact for each Delphi round. We anticipate it should take no more than 30 minutes to complete your response to each survey round.

Risks

There are no anticipated risks associated with this study. We will not record any information that identifies you in anyway. None of the data will be used to affect your employment or relationship with your employer or with any other institution.

Benefits

There are no direct benefits to you as a participant in this study. The knowledge gained from this study will assist in the development of educational material and tools to teach safe mechanical ventilation practices made freely available internationally via the internet.

Compensation

You will be provided with a $30 gift certificate in compensation for your time. If you consent to the study and then withdraw participation before contributing to the focus group or Delphi rounds you will not receive compensation.

Confidentiality

Please be assured that your contributions to the expert panel will remain confidential. Only the study investigators will have access to the information. No personal information will be collected. Study results will be reported in summary form.

Participation and Withdrawal

Participation in the expert panel is on a voluntary basis. You can decide to withdraw at any time, if you do decide to withdraw from participation, it will not be possible to withdraw your previous contributions to the panel.

Questions

If you have any questions about your rights as a research participant, please contact the Research Ethics Board at the University of Toronto, 416-946-3273. If you have any questions regarding the study or would like to receive a report of the study findings please contact Louise Rose at: louise.rose@utoronto.ca. ph: 416 978 3492

Sincerely,

The VIRTUAL Ventilator Team