EMS Use of Isopropyl Alcohol Aromatherapy Versus Ondansetron
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2019-03-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Nausea is a common symptom encountered in the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) environment
that is often treated with oral or intravenous anti-emetic medications. Research Design/Plan:
This will be a randomized equivalence study comparing the reduction in a patient's reported
level of nausea after treatment with either Ondansetron or IPA Methods: Patients who report
nausea and/or vomiting in the normal evaluation and care of after calling 911 for Emergency
Medical Care will be offered enrollment in the study. A short script will be attached to the
outside of each study packet providing information about the study and its risks and
benefits. Verbal or written (waiver of informed consent will be requested) permission will be
obtained to start randomization. If the patient agrees to enroll then the study packet will
be opened and utilized. All Advanced Life Support Ambulances in the San Antonio Fire
Department will have sealed numbered opaque boxes or envelopes with either: 70% Isopropyl
Alcohol swabs or ondansetron. Six Visual Nausea Severity Scoring cards will be provided with
a marking pen to record timed nausea levels before and upon arrival to the Emergency
Department and 15 minutes after treatment whichever comes first.
Clinical Relevance: This treatment has not been studied in the unique environment encountered
by Paramedics in the Pre-Hospital setting. If this treatment is found to be effective, it
many offer a very simple, extremely inexpensive and non-invasive (basic life support)
approach for the treatment of nausea.
Phase:
N/A
Details
Lead Sponsor:
The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio