Antonia Schirmer Stang

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the leading cause of death and disability in children. Many clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have addressed pediatric TBI in the last decade but significant variability in the use of these guidelines persists. Here, we systematically review CPGs recommendations for pediatric moderate-to-severe TBI, evaluate the quality of CPGs, synthesize the quality of evidence and strength of included recommendations, and identify knowledge gaps. A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE ^® , Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Web of Science, and Web sites of organizations publishing recommendations on pediatric injury care. We included CPGs developed in high-income countries from January 2012 to May 2023, with at least one recommendation targeting pediatric (≤ 19 years old) moderate-to-severe TBI populations. The quality of included clinical practice guidelines was assessed using the AGREE II tool. We synthesized evidence on recommendations using a matrix based on the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) framework. We identified 15 CPGs of which 9 were rated moderate to high quality using AGREE II. We identified 90 recommendations, of which 40 (45%) were evidence based. Eleven of these were based on moderate to high quality evidence and were graded as moderate or strong by at least one guideline. These included transfer, imaging, intracranial pressure control, and discharge advice. We identified gaps in evidence-based recommendations for red blood cell transfusion, plasma and platelet transfusion, thromboprophylaxis, surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis, early diagnosis of hypopituitarism, and mental health mangement. Many up-to-date CPGs are available, but there is a paucity of evidence to support recommendations, highlighting the urgent need for robust clinical research in this vulnerable population. Our results may be used by clinicians to identify recommendations based on the highest level of evidence, by healthcare administrators to inform guideline implementation in clinical settings, by researchers to identify areas where robust evidence is needed, and by guideline writing groups to inform the updating of existing guidelines or the development of new ones.

Paediatric emergency departments (EDs) have been identified as inherently stressful for families, making it challenging to understand and meet families’ global needs, beyond urgent medical care. There is a paucity of research describing how effectively the emotional and communication needs of family caregivers are met during ED visits. To describe the extent to which family caregivers’ emotional and communication needs were met during paediatric ED visits and relate these findings to visit and demographic characteristics. Electronic surveys with medical record review were deployed at ten Canadian paediatric EDs from October 2018 – March 2020. A convenience sample of families with children <18 years presenting to a paediatric ED were enrolled, for one week every three months, for one year per site. Caregivers completed one survey in the ED and a follow-up survey, up to seven days post-visit. This study recruited 2005 caregivers who were mostly identified as mothers (74.3%, 1462/1969); mean age was 37.8 years (SD 7.7). 71.7% (1081/1507) of caregivers felt their emotional needs were met. Staff physicians (35.6% [535/1502]), bedside nurses (24.2% [364/1502]), residents/medical students (13.8% [207/1502]) and triage nurses (12.4% [186/1502]) were identified as providing the best emotional support to caregivers. 86.4% (1293/1496) identified communication with the doctor as good/very good and 83.4% (1249/1498) with their child’s nurse. Caregiver involvement in their child’s care was reported as good/very good 85.6% (1271/1485) of the time. 81.8% (1074/1313) of caregivers felt comfortable in caring for their child at home at the time of discharge. Greater triage acuity, being the father (vs. mother), lower caregiver anxiety, respect for the child’s privacy, caregiver involvement in their child’s care, satisfactory updates, and having questions adequately addressed positively impacted caregiver emotional needs. Caregivers feeling less scared during an ED visit, lower caregiver anxiety, caregiver involvement in their child’s care, satisfactory updates, and having questions adequately addressed increased caregiver comfort in caring for their child’s illness at home. Approximately 30% of caregivers presenting to paediatric EDs have unmet emotional needs, over 15% have unmet communication needs, and 15% felt inadequately involved in their child’s care, challenging healthcare providers to do better. Family caregiver involvement in care and good communication from ED staff are key elements in improving overall patient experience and satisfaction.

Objectives We hypothesized that an association exists between satisfaction with ED mental health care delivery and patient and system characteristics. Primary: To evaluate overall satisfaction with ED mental health care delivery. Secondary: To explore aspects of ED mental health care delivery associated with general satisfaction, and patient and ED visit characteristic associated with total satisfaction scores and reported care experience themes. Methods We enrolled patients < 18 years of age presenting with a mental health concern between February 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021, to two pediatric EDs in Alberta, Canada. Satisfaction data were collected using the Service Satisfaction Scale, a measure of global satisfaction with mental health services. Association of general satisfaction with ED mental health care was evaluated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and variables associated with total satisfaction score was assessed using multivariable regression analyses. Inductive thematic analysis of qualitative feedback identified satisfaction and patient experience themes. Results 646 participants were enrolled. 71.2% were Caucasian and 56.3% female. Median age was 13 years (IQR 11–15). Parents/caregivers (n = 606) and adolescents (n = 40) were most satisfied with confidentiality and respect in the ED and least satisfied with how ED services helped reduce symptoms and/or problems. General satisfaction was associated with perceived amount of help received in the ED (r = 0.85) and total satisfaction with evaluation by a mental health team member (p = 0.004) and psychiatrist consultation (p = 0.05). Comments demonstrated satisfaction with ED provider attitudes and interpersonal skills and dissatisfaction with access to mental health and addictions care, wait time, and the impact of COVID-19. Conclusions There is a need to improve ED mental health care delivery, with a focus on timely access to ED mental health providers. Access to outpatient/community-based mental health care is needed to complement care received in the ED and to provide continuity of care for youth with mental health concerns

Objective: Despite strong evidence recommending supportive care as the mainstay of management for most infants with bronchiolitis, prior studies show that patients still receive low-value care (e.g., respiratory viral testing, salbutamol, chest radiography). Our objective was to decrease low-value care by delivering individual physician reports, in addition to group-facilitated feedback sessions to pediatric emergency physicians.Methods: Our cohort included 3,883 patients ≤ 12 months old who presented to pediatric emergency departments in Calgary, Alberta, with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis from April 1, 2013, to April 30, 2018. Using administrative data, we captured baseline characteristics and therapeutic interventions. Consenting pediatric emergency physicians received two audit and feedback reports, which included their individual data and peer comparators. A multidisciplinary group-facilitated feedback session presented data and identified barriers and enablers of reducing low-value care. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who received any low-value intervention and was analysed using statistical process control charts.Results: Seventy-eight percent of emergency physicians consented to receive their audit and feedback reports. Patient characteristics were similar in the baseline and intervention period. Following the baseline physician reports and the group feedback session, low-value care decreased from 42.6% to 27.1% (absolute difference: −15.5%; 95% CI: −19.8% to −11.2%) and 78.9% to 64.4% (absolute difference: −14.5%; 95% CI: −21.9% to −7.2%) in patients who were not admitted and admitted, respectively. Balancing measures, such as intensive care unit admission and emergency department revisit, were unchanged.Conclusion: The combination of audit and feedback and a group-facilitated feedback session reduced low-value care for patients with bronchiolitis.

Objectives The aim of this study was to describe patient-reported pain outcomes at various stages of an emergency department (ED) visit for pediatric limb injury. Methods This prospective cohort consisted of 905 patients aged 4 to 17 years with acute limb injury and a minimum initial pain score of 4/10. Patients reported pain scores and treatments offered and received at each stage of their ED visit. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify predictors for severe pain on initial assessment and moderate or severe pain at ED discharge. Results The initial median pain score was 6/10 (interquartile range, 4-6) and decreased at discharge to 4/10 (interquartile range, 2-6). Stages of the ED visit where the highest proportion of patients reported severe pain (score, >= 8 of 10) were fracture reduction (26.0% [19/73]; 95% confidence interval [CI], 17.1%-37.5%), intravenous insertion (24.4% [11/45]; 95% CI, 13.8%-39.6%), and x-ray (23.7% [158/668]; 95% CI, 20.6%-27.0%). Predictors of severe pain at initial assessment included younger age (odds ratio [OR], 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87-0.97), female sex (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.40-0.84), and presence of fracture (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.07-2.33) whereas, at discharge, older age (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.06-1.23) predicted moderate/severe pain (score, >= 4 of 10). Conclusions These results on the location and predictors of severe pain during an ED visit for limb injury can be used to target interventions to improve pain management and patient outcomes.

Background: Pediatric pain is often under-treated in emergency departments (EDs), causing short and long-term harm. In Alberta EDs, children's pain outcomes were unknown. A recent quality improvement collaborative (QIC) led by our team improved children's pain care in 4 urban EDs. We then spread to all EDs in Alberta using the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Framework for Going to Full Scale. Aim Statement: To increase the proportion of children Measures & Design: All 97 EDs in Alberta that treat children were invited. Each was asked to form a project team, attend webinars, develop key driver diagrams and perform PDSA tests of change. Sites were given a monthly list of randomly selected charts for audit and entered data in REDCap for upload to a provincial run chart dashboard. Baseline performance measurement informed aims. Measures included proportion of children Evaluation/Results: 36 sites (37%) participated, including rural and urban sites from all regions. 8417 visits were audited. 23/36 sites completed audits before and after tests of change and were analyzed. Special cause occurred for all aims. The proportion receiving topical anesthetic increased from 11% to 30% (ITS p < 0. 001). For children with fractures, the proportion with pain scores increased from 24% to 34% (ITS p = 0.21, underlying trend present), proportion receiving analgesic medication increased from 31% to 39% (ITS p = 0.41, underlying trend present) and minutes to analgesia decreased from 60 to 28 (ITS p < 0. 01). There was no increase in length of stay or use of opioid medications. Discussion/Impact: A pragmatic approach encouraging locally led change was well-received and key to success. The QIC method shows promise for improving outcomes in diverse EDs across large geographic areas. Next steps include further spread and sustainability measurement.

Objectives: Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QIPS) plays an important role in addressing shortcomings in optimal healthcare delivery. However, there is little published guidance available for emergency department (ED) teams with respect to developing their own QIPS programs. We sought to create recommendations for established and aspiring ED leaders to use as a pathway to better patient care through programmatic QIPS activities, starting internally and working towards interdepartmental collaboration.Methods: An expert panel comprised of ten ED clinicians with QIPS and leadership expertise was established. A scoping review was conducted to identify published literature on establishing QIPS programs and frameworks in healthcare. Stakeholder consultations were conducted among Canadian healthcare leaders, and recommendations were drafted by the expert panel based on all the accumulated information. These were reviewed and refined at the 2018 CAEP Academic Symposium in Calgary using in-person and technologically-supported feedback.Results: Recommendations include: creating a sense of urgency for improvement; engaging relevant stakeholders and leaders; creating a formal local QIPS Committee; securing funding and resources; obtaining local data to guide the work; supporting QIPS training for team members; encouraging interprofessional, cross-departmental, and patient collaborations; using an established QIPS framework to guide the work; developing reward mechanisms and incentive structures; and considering to start small by focusing on a project rather than a program.Conclusion: A list of 10 recommendations is presented as guiding principles for the establishment and sustainable deployment of QIPS activities in EDs throughout Canada and abroad. ED leaders are encouraged to implement our recommendations in an effort to improve patient care.

Objectives: To describe patient-reported experience in a pediatric emergency department (ED) and determine: ( 1 ) whether there are differences between the experience children report in comparison to their parents; and ( 2 ) whether factors such as time of visit (day, evening, night) and ED census are associated with patient experience. Methods: We conducted a prospective cross-sectional survey of children ≥8 years of age and the parents/guardians of children 0 to 17 years who visited a pediatric ED using a validated patient experience measure. The proportion of respondents for each question indicating that an aspect of their care could have been improved was calculated as problem scores for each survey item. The primary outcome was the overall problem scores for all respondents combined and for children and parents separately. Results: A total of 237 parents and 109 children completed surveys. The areas with the highest problem scores identified by both parents and children were: having enough to do while waiting to be seen (53.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 48.1, 58.8) and when to restart usual activities (34.7; 95% CI: 29.7, 40.0). There were meaningful differences in problem scores between children and parents including: doctors and nurses explaining what they were doing (parents: 19; 95% CI: 14.3, 24.7, child 40.4; 95% CI: 31.2, 50.2) and privacy when examined and treated (parents: 17.3; 95% CI: 12.8, 22.9, child: 36.7; 95% CI: 27.8, 46.5). Conclusion: There are differences in reported experience between children and their parents. This highlights the importance of including children when assessing patient experience in a pediatric setting.

The objective of this study was to describe the quality of emergency department (ED) care for pediatric patients with anaphylaxis. The secondary objectives were to describe (1) the clinical presentation of pediatric patients with anaphylaxis including the proportion of patients meeting each of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) consensus criteria and subcriteria and (2) the Interrater reliability (IRR) for applying the NIAID criteria. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional chart review of patients seen in a pediatric ED during a 2-year period. All charts were reviewed by a trained chart reviewer with 10% abstracted by a second reviewer. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including proportions, medians, and interquartile range. Interrater reliability was calculated using Cohen unweighted κ or percent agreement. Of the 250 charts reviewed, 84% (211) met the NIAID criteria for anaphylaxis (IRR, 1.0). Only 68% of patients received epinephrine in the ED or within 3 hours of the ED visit. Adherence was poor and IRR was variable, for measures reflecting documentation of discharge instructions and follow-up with a specialist. The IRR of reviewers for determining which patients met the NIAID criteria overall and for each subcriterion was high. Our findings highlight a gap between best practice and ED care. In addition, our results suggest that the NIAID criteria can reliably be used to retrospectively identify pediatric patients with anaphylaxis. Accurately identifying cases is a prerequisite for measuring gaps in management and developing interventions to improve care.