Respiratory Complaints Checklist Trial

This is a randomized clinical trial that evaluates the impact of using an internet-based checklist for systematic assessment of patients reporting respiratory complaints with the conventional assessment, without using the checklist.

Study setting: emergency department related acute evaluation outpatient clinic

Inclusion criteria

18 years of age or older; patients presenting to the ED reporting cough or dyspnea;

Exclusion criteria

acute respiratory failure; SpO2 < 92%; any signs of hemodynamic or respiratory instability; possible concurrent diagnosis requiring immediate assessment (e.g..: acute coronary syndrome or stroke; )

Primary outcome: need of reassessment in the ED or hospitalization within 1 month of index evaluation (intervention).

Secondary outcomes: number of complete blood counts ordered in the index evaluation; number of other diagnostic tests ordered in the index evaluation;

Randomization: block 1:1; stratified by gender and age (>50 years old).

Masking will be appllied to: patients; outcome assessors; data analysts;

18 years of age or older; patients presenting to the ED reporting cough or dyspnea; legally capable.

Exclusion criteria

acute respiratory failure; SpO2 < 92%; any signs of hemodynamic or respiratory instability; possible concurrent diagnosis requiring immediate assessment (e.g..: acute coronary syndrome or stroke; )