The SEE-IT Trial
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Emergency Medical Services Streaming Enabled Evaluation In Trauma
IRAS ID
302216
Contact name
Cath Taylor
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Surrey
ISRCTN Number
ISRCTN11449333
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
When a 999-call is made following a trauma incident (e.g. a road traffic accident), the caller is asked to describe what they can see and how serious the injuries appear so the dispatcher can decide how urgently/what type of help is required, including whether road and/or air ambulances are needed. Incomplete information may lead to too few/many ambulances which delays getting help to patients, ambulances being unavailable for others, and is costly for the NHS.
This study will test a system called GoodSAM that allows the dispatcher to use the phone camera in the smartphone of 999 callers when the caller clicks on a link. Live images from the scene can then be seen by the dispatcher (without recording) which might help them to make quicker and more accurate decisions about which ambulances to send. One ambulance dispatch centre will test GoodSAM for six weeks spread out over six months. We will count the number of calls when video helps decision making, check that the link works, and that the dispatcher can see the images. After the incidents, our researchers will use medical reports to assess if the right number and type of ambulances were sent. We will compare incidents when GoodSAM was used, and when it was not (control group).
We will learn if 999 callers are willing for their camera to be used, and if dispatchers find it useful. We’ll also examine if using live streaming upset the callers or dispatchers through interviews and a survey comparing those who used and did not use GoodSAM. In a second city-located ambulance service we will see if it works similarly for a more diverse 999-caller population. This study will help us plan a larger study that will explore more fully the possible benefits of using film footage at trauma incidents.
REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/LO/0912
Date of REC Opinion
25 Jan 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion