Choosing Wisely recommendations for care in the intensive care unit

WIse CHoices in the Intensive Care Unit, a Cluster Randomized Registry Based Clinical Trial

Not applicable Interventional Karolinska Institutet · NCT07013175

This project will try the Choosing Wisely approach in adult ICU patients in Sweden to see if using fewer unnecessary tests and interventions is safe.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment10000 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorKarolinska Institutet Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Stockholm and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT07013175 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This is a multicenter interventional implementation of a Choosing Wisely protocol across Swedish intensive care units led by Karolinska Institutet. Adult patients (18+) admitted to participating ICUs will be managed according to lists of tests and interventions to question, with clinicians prompted to avoid low-value testing where appropriate. The trial will track clinical outcomes (for example mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, need for dialysis, acute kidney injury, and length of stay), as well as use of diagnostic tests and related costs. The primary emphasis is on ensuring that reductions in testing do not produce harm to critically ill patients.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18 years or older who are treated in participating Swedish intensive care units are the intended participants.

Not a fit: Patients under 18 years old, and people cared for outside the participating Swedish ICUs, are not eligible and would not benefit from participating.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the effort could reduce unnecessary tests and interventions, lower costs, and reduce harms from iatrogenic treatments for ICU patients.

How similar studies have performed: Choosing Wisely initiatives have reduced low-value testing and costs in several healthcare settings and some ICU reports, but high-quality data on safety and patient outcomes specifically in ICU populations remain limited.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients 18 years or older, treated in Swedish ICU's

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients under the age of 18 years

Where this trial is running

Stockholm and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Critical IllnessVentilationOutcomeDialysisAcute Kidney Injurycritical illnesschoosing wisely
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.