Characterizing modifications to a comparative effectiveness research study: the OPTIMIZE trial-using the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-based Interventions (FRAME).

BACKGROUND: The OPTIMIZE trial is a multi-site, comparative effectiveness research (CER) study that uses a Sequential Multiple Assessment Randomized Trial (SMART) designed to examine the effectiveness of complex health interventions (cognitive behavioral therapy, physical therapy, and mindfulness) for adults with chronic low back pain. Modifications are anticipated when implementing complex interventions in CER. Disruptions due to COVID have created unanticipated challenges also requiring modifications. Recent methodologic standards for CER studies emphasize that fully characterizing modifications made is necessary to interpret and implement trial results. The purpose of this paper is to outline the modifications made to the OPTIMIZE trial using the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-Based Interventions (FRAME) to characterize modifications to the OPTIMIZE trial in response to the COVID pandemic and other challenges encountered. METHODS: The FRAME outlines a strategy to identify and report modifications to evidence-based interventions or implementation strategies, whether planned or unplanned. We use the FRAME to characterize the process used to modify the aspects of the OPTIMIZE trial. Modifications were made to improve lower-than-anticipated rates of treatment initiation and COVID-related restrictions. Contextual modifications were made to permit telehealth delivery of treatments originally designed for in-person delivery. Training modifications were made with study personnel to provide more detailed information to potential participants, use motivational interviewing communication techniques to clarify potential participants' motivation and possible barriers to initiating treatment, and provide greater assistance with scheduling of assigned treatments. RESULTS: Modifications were developed with input from the trial's patient and stakeholder advisory panels. The goals of the modifications were to improve trial feasibility without compromising the interventions' core functions. Modifications were approved by the study funder and the trial steering committee. CONCLUSIONS: Full and transparent reporting of modifications to clinical trials, whether planned or unplanned, is critical for interpreting the trial's eventual results and considering future implementation efforts. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03859713. Registered on March 1, 2019.

Avoiding Routine Oxygen Therapy in Patients With Myocardial Infarction Saves Significant Expenditure for the Health Care System-Insights From the Randomized DETO2X-AMI Trial.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) occurs frequently and requires considerable health care resources. It is important to ensure that the treatments which are provided are both clinically effective and economically justifiable. Based on recent new evidence, routine oxygen therapy is no longer recommended in MI patients without hypoxemia. By using data from a nationwide randomized clinical trial, we estimated oxygen therapy related cost savings in this important clinical setting. Methods: The DETermination of the role of Oxygen in suspected Acute Myocardial Infarction (DETO2X-AMI) trial randomized 6,629 patients from 35 hospitals across Sweden to oxygen at 6 L/min for 6-12 h or ambient air. Costs for drug and medical supplies, and labor were calculated per patient, for the whole study population, and for the total annual care episodes for MI in Sweden (N = 16,100) with 10 million inhabitants. Results: Per patient, costs were estimated to 36 USD, summing up to a total cost of 119,832 USD for the whole study population allocated to oxygen treatment. Applied to the annual care episodes for MI in Sweden, costs sum up to between 514,060 and 604,777 USD. In the trial, 62 (2%) patients assigned to oxygen and 254 (8%) patients assigned to ambient air developed hypoxemia. A threshold analysis suggested that up to a cut-off of 624 USD spent for hypoxemia treatment related costs per patient, avoiding routine oxygen therapy remains cost saving. Conclusions: Avoiding routine oxygen therapy in patients with suspected or confirmed MI without hypoxemia at baseline saves significant expenditure for the health care system both with regards to medical and human resources. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT01787110.

Ethical challenges of prospective clinical trials during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has created an unprecedented opportunity to reimagine clinical research. While much has been written about the challenges associated with generating real-world evidence during the COVID-19 pandemic, comparatively little attention has been paid to the ethical challenges facing patients, clinicians, researchers, and regulatory bodies. AREAS COVERED: In this manuscript, we examine these challenges through the lens of informed consent and explore how the consenting process changes as our understanding of the disease is altered. EXPERT OPINION: We also suggest ways to limit these ethical hurdles through the use of embedded pragmatic clinical trials, which generate real-world data without the limitations associated with observational trials or the resources and lack of generalizability that are obstacles to conducting conventional randomized clinical trials. We argue that clinical research must become more nimble, and must include embedded researchers to ensure that relevant questions and ethical issues are properly addressed.

Pragmatic clinic randomized trial to improve chronic kidney disease care: Design and adaptation due to COVID disruptions.

BACKGROUND: We describe a clinic-randomized trial to improve chronic kidney disease (CKD) care through a CKD-clinical decision support (CKD-CDS) intervention in primary care clinics and the challenges we encountered due to COVID-19 care disruption. METHODS/DESIGN: Primary care clinics (N = 32) were randomized to usual care (UC) or to CKD-CDS. Between April 17, 2019 and March 14, 2020, more than 7000 patients had accrued for analysis by meeting study-eligibility criteria at an index office visit: age 18-75, laboratory criteria for stage 3 or 4 CKD (eGFR 15-59 mL/min/1.73 m2), and one or more opportunities algorithmically identified to improve CKD care such as blood pressure (BP) or glucose control, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) use, discontinuance of a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), or nephrology referral. At CKD-CDS clinics, CDS provided individualized treatment suggestions that were printed for patients and clinicians at the start of office encounters and were viewable within the electronic health record. By initial design, the impact of the CKD-CDS intervention on care gaps was to be assessed 12 months after the index date, but COVID-19 caused major disruptions to care delivery during the intervention period. In response to disruptions, the intervention was temporarily suspended while we expanded CDS use for telehealth encounters and programmed new criteria for displaying the CKD-CDS to intervention patients due to clinic closures and scheduling changes. DISCUSSION: We describe a NIH-funded pragmatic trial of web-based EHR-integrated CKD-CDS and modifications necessary mid-study to complete the study as intended in the face of COVID-19 pandemic challenges.

Early use of corticosteroids in non-critical patients with COVID-19 pneumonia (PREDCOVID): a structured summary of a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of early treatment with prednisone to decrease the progression of COVID-19 pneumonia. TRIAL DESIGN: This is a pragmatic, non-blinded, randomized, two arms, parallel trial. PARTICIPANTS: Patients between 18 and 90 years, with COVID-19 pneumonia, confirmed by RT PCR. The setting for the trial is the Hospital Santiago Oriente which is a secondary level hospital with an emergency room, intensive care, and all basic specialties of medicine. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 18 years or more COVID-19 confirmed by RT-PCR Oxygen requirements up to 35% by venturi mask or 5 liters per minute by nasal cannula (approximately FiO2 40%) Consent form signed Exclusion Criteria: Previous steroid use for more than 48 hours. Pregnancy Chronic respiratory failure Requirements of mechanical ventilation (invasive or no invasive) Chronic liver damage Child Pugh B or C Chronic kidney disease stage IV or V. Immunosuppressed Participation in another trial. INTERVENTION AND COMPARATOR: Experimental arm Prednisone 40 mg days 1 to 4. Then Prednisone 20 mg days 5 to 8. Usual care defined by the attending physician. Control arm No intervention. Usual care defined by the attending physician. MAIN OUTCOMES: Primary outcome Composite Primary End-point: Admission to ICU, Need for Invasive Mechanical Ventilation or All-cause Death by Day 28 Secondary outcomes (followed until day 28). Time to respiratory deterioration Incidence of patients requiring mechanical ventilation: Number of days on mechanical ventilation Special emphasis will be placed on observing the following serious adverse events Deterioration of the glycemic profile that requires the use of insulin Delirium Incidence of hospital infections (pneumonia, urinary tract infection, device associated infections) Cumulative incidence of grade 3 and 4 adverse events (AE). Interruption or temporary suspension of treatment for any reason RANDOMISATION: Randomisation in permuted block. Computer generated random numbers in an allocation rate of 1:1. Stata 14.0 was used. Allocated by the principal investigator (direct communication). BLINDING (MASKING): Patients not blinded. Caregivers not blinded. Participants not blinded. Statistician will not know the allocation. NUMBERS TO BE RANDOMISED (SAMPLE SIZE): 92 patients in each arm. 184 total number of patients. TRIAL STATUS: Protocol version 2.0., approved October 2, 2020. Trial ongoing. Recruitment start: June 23, 2020. Anticipate finish recruiting: November 30, 2020. The protocol has been submitted before the last patient and last visit. The delay in sending to publication is responsibility of the authors. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Early Use of Corticosteroids in Non-critical Patients With COVID-19 Pneumonia (PREDCOVID). Registration number NCT04451174 . Date of trial registration: June 26, 2020. FULL PROTOCOL: The full protocol is attached as an additional file, accessible from the Trials website (Additional file 1). In the interest in expediting dissemination of this material, the familiar formatting has been eliminated; this Letter serves as a summary of the key elements of the full protocol.