In May 2024, following many months of preparations, the first patients were enrolled in the Electronic clinical Decision support for Acute fever Management (EDAM) cluster randomised trial in Battambang province, Cambodia.
The EDAM trial aims to assess the impact of an electronic decision support tool (the EDAM app) on antibiotic prescribing rates among patients presenting with acute febrile illness (AFI) to primary care centres in Battambang. The EDAM app, co-created with local clinicians, guides healthcare workers through various steps in order to help guide clinical assessment of AFI and suggest appropriate clinical management. In the trial, half of the 30 participating health centres were randomised to use the EDAM app in clinical care, whilst the other half will serve as a comparison group.
Coordinated on the ground by MORU’s research partner, Action for Health and Development (AHEAD, led by executive director Dr Moul Vanna) and field research team (led by Dr Abhijit Mishra and Phal Chanpheakdey), the EDAM trial has enrolled more than 1,000 patients since the end of May. The MORU and AHEAD staff have been working closely with the Provincial Health Department (PHD) and Operational District (OD) Directors to provide support and guidance to the healthcare workers partaking in the trial, focussing particularly on how healthcare workers can optimally integrate using the EDAM app during the busiest clinic hours.
With a recruitment target of 4,560 participants, the EDAM trial will continue to enrol patients throughout the rainy season over the next few months.
The patient’s caregiver provided consent to share this photograph.
The patient’s caregiver provided consent to share this photograph.
The patient’s caregiver provided consent to share this photograph.
