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NCT Number: NCT06499883

Agile Development of Innovative, Interactive Hazard Recognition and Mitigation Tools/Learning E-platforms for Workers Involved in Disaster Rescue and Recovery

The goal of this study is to assess Pocket Ark (PA), which is a mobile e-learning and assessment platform for use by flood remediation workers in the field. The purpose of the mobile application is to provide workers with real-time data to assist with making safe decisions during the planning phase in the flooded zone and provide a communications platform to improve logistics between operational bases and workers during and after the deployment to the flooded zone. Pocket Ark incorporates an action planner, scenario-based PPE training content, assessments (both knowledge and health-risk), personal security protection, and resource location features for workers involved in disaster rescue and recovery. Individual construction worker's readiness to be safely deployed to flooded and post-flood environments will be assessed.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

About this study

Enrolled participants will be asked to complete: 1) basic demographic and occupational health information; 2) a simulated wage contract with an employer; 3) a pre-behavioral capability test; and 4) a post flood disaster scenario, which is based on an actual flooding event that has occurred. Participants will be asked questions regarding their response to different challenges he/she might encounter in a post flood construction event and then the correct answer will be provided for learning. Information will be largely graphical, and workers can take the module over the course of several days. Educational material will be based on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute and the Center for Construction Research and Training disaster preparedness programs.

Finally, participants will complete: 5) a post behavioral capability test and 6) a brief medical questionnaire of the participant's medical history. Based on the results of the educational testing and the completed medical response, a Readiness Index will be calculated for the participant and relayed to both the participant and the worker advocacy organization. This readiness index will be derived from achieving a passing score of 70% of behavioral capability on the educational and scenario modules, successful completion of the health screening questionnaire, and successful completion of a wage contract.

A brief acceptability assessment and exit interview survey will be completed by participants, and it will assess the program's usefulness, evaluate for technical glitches encountered, request suggestions for future implementation, and derive ratings on PA perceived impact.

Additionally, a worker advocacy staff member who normally conducts disaster preparedness training and a member of the worker advocacy program upper management will be asked to go through the training and answer questions regarding program usability from their perspective.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Reconstruction workers
  • Affiliated members of the worker advocacy organization
  • Professional experience working in the construction industry
  • Have a 3- year or newer version cell phone capable of accessing the internet
  • Has not completed a Resilience Force training in the last 2 years

Exclusion criteria

  • inability to complete requested activities
  • lack of cell phone connectivity

Treatment and study plan

Pocket Ark

Behavioral

Pocket Ark (PA) is a mobile e-learning and assessment platform for use by flood remediation workers in the field. The purpose of this mobile application is to provide workers with real-time data to assist with making safe decisions during the planning phase in the flooded zone and provide a communications platform to improve logistics between operational bases and workers during and after the deployment to the flooded zone. Pocket Ark incorporates an action planner, scenario-based PPE training content, assessments (both knowledge and health-risk), personal security protection, and resource location features for workers involved in disaster rescue and recovery. Individual construction worker's readiness to be safely deployed to flooded and post-flood environments will be assessed.

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of participants who have increased behavioral capability as assessed by a survey

    Time frame: baseline, after completion of Pocket Ark education (within 2 hours of baseline)

    A survey will be used to assess the worker's procedural knowledge on the steps and skills to negotiate a contract and meet criteria for operational readiness for post-flood clean-up.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Usability of the Pocket Ark mobile application as assessed by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)

    Time frame: after completion of Pocket Ark education (within 2 hours of baseline)

    Total score on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) ranges from 5 to 25, with a lower the score indicating greater usability.

  2. Usability of the Pocket Ark mobile application as assessed by the System Usability Scale (SUS)

    Time frame: after completion of Pocket Ark education (within 2 hours of baseline)

    Total score on the System Usability Scale (SUS) ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating greater usability.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Geethika Yalavarthy, MBBS

CONTACT

[email protected]

713-500-9000

William B Perkison, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

713-500-9468

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

Registry information

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Jul 15, 2024
Registry last updated
Jul 15, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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