An observational study in Sepsis, sponsored by Claudia Spies. Recruiting at 1 site in Ghana. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-02-24.
Sponsored by Claudia Spies · Observational
This study is an anonymous online survey on clinical knowledge of sepsis among healthcare professionals in seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The survey is to be repeated every 12-24 months.
The survey is being conducted in the partner countries of the research network "sub-Saharan Africa consorTium for the Advancement of Innovative Research and Care in Sepsis (STAIRS)," which is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). As part of clinical capacity building in partner institutions in Uganda, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria, the project will establish a series of webinars and a learning platform, among other things. The survey will be conducted in two separate cross-sectional waves. The baseline survey serves to identify relevant knowledge gaps and determine the needs of various groups of healthcare professionals. The second wave will compare sepsis knowledge scores between waves.
2,416 studies on the registry are indexed under Sepsis; 541 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 300 is above the median of 150 across 1,162 observational studies indexed under Sepsis.
Browse Sepsis studies →Claudia Spies is the lead sponsor of 13 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Adult members of a healthcare profession (e.g., doctors, nurses, clinical officers) or their trainees from healthcare facility in one of the seven partner countries (Uganda, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria).
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
150 adult participants from healthcare professions from partner institutions in Uganda, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria are surveyed.
150 adult participants from healthcare professions from partner institutions in Uganda, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria are surveyed.
Sepsis - Knowledge - Score
* Measured as the sum of correctly answered questions in the questionnaire. This results in a sepsis knowledge score of 0-47 points, with higher scores indicating better knowledge. * Assessed in two independent cross-sectional survey waves. * Calculated for all participants. * Serves as the main measure of clinical sepsis knowledge in partner countries across survey waves conducted before and after the implementation period of capacity-building activities
Time frame: Baseline survey period (January 19, 2026 - April 30, 2026) and follow-up survey period (April 1, 2027 - July 31, 2027)
Domain-specific knowledge of sepsis
Domain-specific knowledge of sepsis is measured in five domains, to identify specific knowledge gaps. Domain-specific scores will be measured as the sum of correctly answered questions in the questionnaire in respective domain. Domains are: 1. definitions of sepsis and septic shock (0-8 points, with higher points indicating higher knowledge) 2. sepsis risk groups (0-6 points, with higher points indicating higher knowledge), 3. causes of sepsis (0-6 points, with higher points indicating higher knowledge), 4. sepsis symptoms (0-6 points, with higher points indicating higher knowledge), 5. management of sepsis (0-21 points, with higher points indicating higher knowledge). All domains together sum up to the overall sepsis knowledge score (primary outcome).
Time frame: Baseline survey period (January 19, 2026 - April 30, 2026), and follow-up survey period (April 1, 2027 - July 31, 2027)
Analysis of sepsis knowledge scores and domain-specific scores by professional role
* Correlations between sepsis knowledge scores and professional roles and different levels of education within professional groups (nurses, doctors, and midwifes). * Regression-based predictors of overall sepsis knowledge scores and domain-specific scores by professional roles and different levels of education within the professional groups of nurses, doctors, and midwifes
Time frame: Baseline survey period (January 19, 2026 - April 30, 2026), and follow-up survey period (April 1, 2027 - July 31, 2027)
Country comparison
• Between group comparison in sepsis knowledge scores and domain-specific sepsis knowledge between different countries (Uganda, Ethiopia, the Demoratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria, (potentially other countries in case of spill-over).
Time frame: Baseline survey period (January 19, 2026 - April 30, 2026), and follow-up survey period (April 1, 2027 - July 31, 2027)
Second survey wave only: Change in sepsis knowledge scores between survey waves
\- Difference in average knowledge score in repeated survey. * Between-wave comparison of sepsis knowledge scores and domain specific sepsis knowledge scores in a comparison between baseline assessment and after implementation of STAIRS capacity building measures * Comparisons between survey waves will be conducted using appropriate parametric or non-parametric tests
Time frame: Follow-up survey period (April 1, 2027 - July 31, 2027)
Comparison of sepsis knowledge scores by self-reported participation in capacity-building measures
* Comparison of sepsis knowledge scores and domain-specific scores between respondents who report participation in capacity-building activities and those who do not * If possible, assessment of correlations and adjusted relationships between participation in capacity-building activities and sepsis knowledge scores
Time frame: Follow-up survey period (April 1, 2027 - July 31, 2027)
Baseline survey only: Self-assessment of perceived training needs
* Exploratory analysis of self-reported sepsis training needs, and preferred formats (virtual vs. in-person) * Self-reported perception of the importance of sepsis as a training subject
Time frame: Baseline survey period (January 19, 2026 - April 30, 2026)
Vignette-based sepsis knowledge score (sum of correct responses to predefined vignette items)
* Calculated as the sum of correct responses (0-9 points) to predefined items across four clinical case vignettes * Analyzed separately from the primary sepsis knowledge score * Analyzed descriptively and compared between groups and survey waves using appropriate statistical tests
Time frame: Baseline survey period (January 19, 2026 - April 30, 2026), and follow-up survey period (April 1, 2027 - July 31, 2027)
Plan to share: No
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