Cardiac Arrest (CA)COM-ARMNCT07776990
Effectiveness of a Communication Training Program in Improving the Handling of Calls for Suspected Cardiac Arrest at SAMU-Centre 15.
A study testing Multifaceted intervention including 4 components in people with Cardiac Arrest (CA), run by University Hospital, Grenoble at 10 sites in France.
Trial summary
Each year, France's emergency response services-the SAMU (15) and the fire department (18)-handle 31 million and 19 million calls, respectively. The effectiveness of this system depends on the call centers' ability to obtain location information, prioritize responses, assess the severity of each call, and dispatch… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Cardiac Arrest (CA)
- What is being tested?
- Multifaceted intervention including 4 components
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 987 participants
- Where
- 10 sitesFrance
- Study dates
- 1 Oct 2026to Aug 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of presumed medical origin in an adult patient diagnosed during the phone call to the 15 emergency dispatch center
- Non Inclusion Criteria:
- Minor patients,
- Calls initially handled by another emergency call center or a healthcare professional,
- Calls regarding cardiac arrest for which CPR has already been initiated at the time the call is made to the 15 center,
- Obvious or known pregnancy at the time of enrollment.
- Persons protected under Articles L1121-6 and L1121-8 of the Public Health Code (CSP).
Who cannot join
None listed.
Trial locations and contacts
10 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
10 sites in 1 country
France10 sites
CH Annecy-Genevois
Annecy
Thierry Roupioz
CHU Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Xavier Combes
CH Métropole Savoie- Chambéry
Chambéry
Heidi Mampe Armstrong
CH Vendée
La Roche-sur-Yon
Vincent Diot
Hospices Civils de Lyon - HEH
Lyon
Florent Femy
CHRU Nancy
Nancy
Tahar Chouihed
CHU Nantes
Nantes
Simon Ribes
CHU Rennes
Rennes
Paul-Georges Reuter
CHU Rouen
Rouen
Mélanie Roussel
CHU Toulouse
Toulouse
Vincent Bounes
About this study
Official title: Effectiveness of a Communication Training Program in Improving the Handling of Calls for Suspected Cardiac Arrest at SAMU-Centre 15. A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Stepped-Wedge Implementation Trial
Each year, France's emergency response services-the SAMU (15) and the fire department (18)-handle 31 million and 19 million calls, respectively. The effectiveness of this system depends on the call centers' ability to obtain location information, prioritize responses, assess the severity of each call, and dispatch appropriate emergency resources.
Cardiac arrest (CA) affects 40,000 people in France each year who call on this service. The survival rate decreases by 7 to 10% for every minute that elapses between cardiac arrest and the start of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Early CPR performed by bystanders is associated with a survival rate 2-3 times higher than CPR initiated only after emergency responders arrive on the scene. CPR assisted by SAMU-Centre 15 dispatchers (T-CPR) is a way to provide CPR to patients before emergency responders arrive on the scene and is recommended as early as possible to improve survival. According to the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, the timing of the initiation of the chain of survival is considered high quality if T-CPR is initiated within 90 seconds.
Read more
Studies show that recognizing a cardiac arrest (CA) over the phone is often difficult for several reasons, including communication challenges, the caller's stress, and the presence of abnormal breathing.
Emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) receive very little training on communication strategies, particularly those needed to optimally manage stressed and sometimes difficult callers. Interventions to improve communication have proven effective among healthcare professionals. These methods included face-to-face training, blended learning programs, simulation-based teamwork exercises, and communication techniques adapted from aviation. Standardized scripting systems have been shown to improve the speed of decision-making and the dispatch of emergency response teams. These scripts depend on the quality of the information provided by the caller and the caller's ability to communicate effectively with the EMD.
The objective of this study will be to evaluate the effect of a communication training program for Centre-15 emergency medical dispatchers on calls for cardiac arrest.
- Conditions
- Cardiac Arrest (CA)
- Being tested
- Multifaceted intervention including 4 components
- Keywords
- Cardiac Arrest, Dispatcher, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- Medical subject headings
- Heart Arrest
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Multifaceted intervention including 4 componentsOther
a multifaceted initiative combining training for SAMU-Centre 15 emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) on the use of a standardized script, training on barriers to the early recognition of cardiac arrest, communication training to optimize the relationship with the caller, and training on handling difficult calls
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Control | No intervention | Standard patient care in accordance with international recommendations. Local protocols for handling |
| Experimental | Experimental | A multifaceted initiative combining training for SAMU Emergency medical dispatchers on the use of a standardized protocol, training on barriers to the early recognition of cardiac arrest, communication training to optimize interactions with callers, and training on handling difficult calls. Receives: Other: Multifaceted intervention including 4 components |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
The effect of a multifaceted training intervention for SAMU-Centre 15 emergency medical technicians on the proportion of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of medical origin who receive early T-RCP within 90 seconds of the call being answered,
The p-roportion of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of medical origin for which T-RCP guidance is initiated within 90 seconds of the EMD answering the call will be calculated by the time to initiation of T-CPR (defined as the time elapsed between the SAMU-Centre 15 operator answering the call and the first time the operator verbally provides cardiopulmonary resuscitation instructions to the caller) The criterion will be considered met when this time is 90 seconds or less.
Measured: Baseline
Secondary outcomes (17)
Survival with good neurological outcome at 30 days
Favorable neurological outcome at 30 days : Neurological outcome will be assessed by a physician using:
- the Cerebral Performance Category (CPC) scale CPC 1 : Good Cerbral Performance -> CPC 5: Brain Death
Measured: 30 days
Survival with good neurological outcome at 30 days
Favorable neurological outcome at 30 days : Neurological outcome will be assessed by a physician using:
- the modified Rankin scale Scores: 0: No Symptoms -> 5: Severe disability
Measured: 30 days
Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC)
ROSC: defined by a clinical assessment of vital signs, including the presence of a palpable pulse or blood pressure
Measured: perioperatively/periprocedurally (during the CPR)
The proportion of patients admitted alive, discharged alive from the hospital, and alive at 30 days
Survival at hospital admission, discharge, and at 30 days
Measured: Day 0, day of discharge of the hospital and 30 days
The initial heart rate recorded
The initial heart rhythm recorded by a physician based on an analysis of the first heart rhythm recorded after the arrival of emergency medical personnel
Measured: Baseline
Proportion of recognized cardiac arrests
Percentage of calls for suspected cardiac arrest (CA) out of the total number of calls received for confirmed cardiac arrest (upon the arrival of emergency responders at the scene).
Measured: Baseline
Proportion of CAs recognized in calls for recognizable CAs
Percentage of calls for CAs identified relative to the number of calls received for identifiable CAs
Measured: Baseline
Proportion of CA calls receiving CPR guidance,
Percentage of calls receiving advice from T-RCP
Measured: Baseline
Proportion of CA calls in which the caller agrees to begin CPR for all CAs
Percentage of calls for CAs where the caller agrees to begin CPR for all CAs
Measured: Baseline
Time to recognize a cardiac arrest
Timeframe for the EMS to recognize the CA.
Measured: Baseline
Time to obtain location information
Time between answering the call and obtaining precise location information
Measured: Baseline
Percentage of cardiac arrests recognized within 60 seconds
Percentage of calls for CA recognized in less than 60 seconds, based on "recognizable" calls
Measured: Baseline
Percentage of cardiac arrests recognized within 90 seconds
Percentage of calls for CA recognized in less than 90 seconds, based on "recognizable" calls
Measured: Baseline
Time to begin CPR instructions
Timeframe for Initiating CPR instructions
Measured: Baseline
Percentage of calls where CPR instructions begin within 150 seconds
The proportion of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of medical origin for which T-RCP guidance is initiated within 150 seconds of the EMD answering the call is defined by the time to initiation of T-CPR
Measured: Baseline
Quality of communication by the EMD
Call quality between the EMD and the caller: The evaluation will be conducted in accordance with the recommendations published by the Haute Autorité de Santé (HAS) [85], which include guidelines for conducting interviews with callers and communication protocols. An assessment of compliance with the decision-making algorithms will also be included. The evaluation will be carried out by experts during a blinded review of the trial period.
Measured: Immediately after the procedure
Impact on service quality
Impact analysis on Center 15 by evaluating the QS30
Measured: Day of inclusion
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Aug 2026
- Study start1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionAug 2028 (estimated)
- Study completionAug 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Cardiac Arrest (CA)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Sequential
- Model description
- A multicenter, randomized controlled trial using a stepped-wedge implementation design.
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 987 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, Grenoble
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Monique Sorrentino, Study director, CHU Grenoble Alpes
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07776990
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 38RC22.0037
- Acronym
- COM-ARM
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 29 Jun 2026
- Last updated
- 20 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: Study protocol will be submitted for publication. IPD will be shared with other researcher.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effectiveness of a Communication Training Program in Improving the Handling of Calls for Suspected Cardiac Arrest at SAMU-Centre 15. A Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Stepped-Wedge Implementation Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07776990
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- COM-ARM / 38RC22.0037
- Conditions
- Cardiac Arrest (CA)
- Keywords
- Cardiac Arrest, Dispatcher, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 987 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University Hospital, GrenobleUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Aug 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Aug 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Each year, France's emergency response services-the SAMU (15) and the fire department (18)-handle 31 million and 19 million calls, respectively. The effectiveness of this system depends on the call centers' ability to obtain location information, prioritize responses, assess the severity of each call, and dispatch appropriate emergency resources.
Cardiac arrest (CA) affects 40,000 people in France each year who call on this service. The survival rate decreases by 7 to 10% for every minute that elapses between cardiac arrest and the start of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Early CPR performed by bystanders is associated with a survival rate 2-3 times higher than CPR initiated only after emergency responders arrive on the scene. CPR assisted by SAMU-Centre 15 dispatchers (T-CPR) is a way to provide CPR to patients before emergency responders arrive on the scene and is recommended as early as possible to improve survival. According to the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, the timing of the initiation of the chain of survival is considered high quality if T-CPR is initiated within 90 seconds.
Studies show that recognizing a cardiac arrest (CA) over the phone is often difficult for several reasons, including communication challenges, the caller's stress, and the presence of abnormal breathing.
Emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) receive very little training on communication strategies, particularly those needed to optimally manage stressed and sometimes difficult callers. Interventions to improve communication have proven effective among healthcare professionals. These methods included face-to-face training, blended learning programs, simulation-based teamwork exercises, and communication techniques adapted from aviation. Standardized scripting systems have been shown to improve the speed of decision-making and the dispatch of emergency response teams. These scripts depend on the quality of the information provided by the caller and the caller's ability to communicate effectively with the EMD.
The objective of this study will be to evaluate the effect of a communication training program for Centre-15 emergency medical dispatchers on calls for cardiac arrest.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Sequential
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- A multicenter, randomized controlled trial using a stepped-wedge implementation design.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Control | No intervention | –Standard patient care in accordance with international recommendations. Local protocols for handling |
| Experimental | Experimental | Other: Multifaceted intervention including 4 componentsA multifaceted initiative combining training for SAMU Emergency medical dispatchers on the use of a standardized protocol, training on barriers to the early recognition of cardiac arrest, communication training to optimize interactions with callers, and training on handling difficult calls. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of presumed medical origin in an adult patient diagnosed during the phone call to the 15 emergency dispatch center
- Minor patients,
- Calls initially handled by another emergency call center or a healthcare professional,
- Calls regarding cardiac arrest for which CPR has already been initiated at the time the call is made to the 15 center,
- Obvious or known pregnancy at the time of enrollment.
Key exclusion criteria (0 listed)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Multifaceted intervention including 4 componentsa multifaceted initiative combining training for SAMU-Centre 15 emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) on the use of a standardized script, training on barriers to the early recognition of cardiac arrest, communication training to optimize the relationship with the caller, and training on handling difficult calls | Other | Experimental |
Primary outcome
The effect of a multifaceted training intervention for SAMU-Centre 15 emergency medical technicians on the proportion of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of medical origin who receive early T-RCP within 90 seconds of the call being answered,
Time frame: Baseline
The p-roportion of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests of medical origin for which T-RCP guidance is initiated within 90 seconds of the EMD answering the call will be calculated by the time to initiation of T-CPR (defined as the time elapsed between the SAMU-Centre 15 operator answering the call and the first time the operator verbally provides cardiopulmonary resuscitation instructions to the caller) The criterion will be considered met when this time is 90 seconds or less.
17 secondary outcomes
Survival with good neurological outcome at 30 days
Time frame: 30 days
Survival with good neurological outcome at 30 days
Time frame: 30 days
Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC)
Time frame: perioperatively/periprocedurally (during the CPR)
The proportion of patients admitted alive, discharged alive from the hospital, and alive at 30 days
Time frame: Day 0, day of discharge of the hospital and 30 days
The initial heart rate recorded
Time frame: Baseline
Proportion of recognized cardiac arrests
Time frame: Baseline
Proportion of CAs recognized in calls for recognizable CAs
Time frame: Baseline
Proportion of CA calls receiving CPR guidance,
Time frame: Baseline
Proportion of CA calls in which the caller agrees to begin CPR for all CAs
Time frame: Baseline
Time to recognize a cardiac arrest
Time frame: Baseline
Time to obtain location information
Time frame: Baseline
Percentage of cardiac arrests recognized within 60 seconds
Time frame: Baseline
Percentage of cardiac arrests recognized within 90 seconds
Time frame: Baseline
Time to begin CPR instructions
Time frame: Baseline
Percentage of calls where CPR instructions begin within 150 seconds
Time frame: Baseline
Quality of communication by the EMD
Time frame: Immediately after the procedure
Impact on service quality
Time frame: Day of inclusion
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. Study protocol will be submitted for publication. IPD will be shared with other researcher.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Monique Sorrentino study director
CHU Grenoble Alpes
10 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Multifaceted intervention including 4 components in people with Cardiac Arrest (CA), run by University Hospital, Grenoble at 10 sites in France.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 0 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 10 sites in France. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Guillaume Debaty, MD, PhD (+334767634202, gdebaty@chu-grenoble.fr), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
The effect of a multifaceted training intervention for SAMU-Centre 15 emergency medical technicians on the proportion of patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest of medical origin who receive early T-RCP within 90 seconds of the call being answered, (time frame: Baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Aug 2026.