Prehospital end-of-life care: how professionals use a comfort care booklet in Strasbourg
Official title: Prehospital Care of End-of-Life Patients by the Strasbourg Mobile Emergency and Resuscitation Service (SMUR): A Qualitative Study of Healthcare Professionals' Experiences and Use of a Comfort Care Booklet
Run by University Hospital, Strasbourg, France · NCT07895940 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests how emergency crew members in Strasbourg use a comfort care booklet when caring for patients at end of life, and what they think about it.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Hospital, Strasbourg, France Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Strasbourg) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 6, 2026 |
| Main results expected | January 6, 2027 |
| Study ends | March 6, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 26, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07895940 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Healthcare professionals working in Strasbourg SMUR with at least three months of experience and who consent to interview and audio recording.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients and families may not directly benefit from participation; findings are intended to inform improvements in care delivery.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This qualitative observational study explores experiences, perceptions, and needs of Strasbourg SMUR healthcare professionals regarding prehospital end-of-life care and the newly introduced comfort care booklet. Researchers will conduct about 12–20 semi-structured, face-to-face interviews, audio-record them, and analyze transcripts to identify themes. The aim is to understand how the booklet influences practice, decision-making, and communication in the prehospital setting. Eligible participants include physicians, nurse anesthetists, registered nurses, and ambulance personnel with at least three months of SMUR experience. Participation is voluntary, and data will be collected with consent and anonymized for analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Gaining insights into how a comfort care booklet affects prehospital palliative care could inform practice improvements and training.
How similar studies have gone: Qualitative studies in prehospital and palliative care have identified benefits from structured tools and provider perspectives, though this exact booklet in this setting is novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Healthcare professionals currently working in the Strasbourg SMUR at Strasbourg University Hospitals, including physicians, nurse anesthetists, registered nurses, and ambulance personnel. * At least three months of SMUR experience. * Voluntary agreement to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Professionals in a probationary period. * Administrative or logistics personnel. * Individuals who decline participation after receiving study information. * Individuals who decline audio recording of the interview.
Where it's running
-
SMUR de Strasbourg - CHU de Strasbourg, France
Strasbourg, France Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Valérie Wilmé, MD
- Email: valerie.wilme@chru-strasbourg.fr
- Phone: 33 6 89 13 46 64
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.