Impact of a bronchiolitis clinical care pathway on treatment and hospital stay

Characteristics and health service utilization of children most at risk for prolonged temporary tube feeding

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to describe children at risk of prolonged temporary tube feeding and evaluate associations between tube feeding duration and child and health service variables.

METHODS

A prospective medical hospital records audit was conducted between November 1, 2018, and November 30, 2019. Children at risk of prolonged temporary tube feeding were identified as having a tube feeding duration of >5 days. Information was collected on patient characteristics (eg, age) and service delivery provision (eg, tube exit plans). Data were collected from the pretube decision-making phase until tube removal (if applicable) or until 4 months after tube insertion.

RESULTS

Descriptively, 211 at-risk children (median, 3.7 years; interquartile range [IQR], 0.4-7.7) differed from 283 not-at-risk children (median age, 0.9 years; IQR, 0.4-1.8) in terms of age, geographical location of residence, and tube exit planning. Medical diagnoses of neoplasms, congenital abnormalities, perinatal problems, and digestive system diseases in the at-risk group were individually associated with longer than average tube feeding duration, as were the primary reasons for tube feeding of nonorganic growth faltering and inadequate oral intake related to neoplasms. Yet, variables independently associated with greater odds of lengthier tube feeding durations were consultations with a dietitian, speech pathologist, or interdisciplinary feeding team.

CONCLUSION

Children at risk of prolonged temporary tube feeding access interdisciplinary management because of their complexity. Identified descriptive differences between at-risk and not-at-risk children may be useful when selecting patients for tube exit planning and developing tube feeding management education programs for health professionals.

Impact of bronchiolitis guidelines publication on primary care prescriptions in the Italian pediatric population

In Italy, two clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of bronchiolitis were published in October 2014 and December 2015. We evaluated prescriptions for bronchiolitis in children aged 0-24 months before (December 2012-December 2014), in between (December 2014-December 2015) and after (December 2015-December 2018) the guidelines publications. Data were retrieved from the Pedianet database; the measured outcomes were prescriptions rates of antibiotics, corticosteroids, β2-agonists, and other respiratory drugs. In 1011 out of 1581 episodes, patients received at least one treatment, with a total of 2003 prescriptions. The rate of treated bronchiolitis decreased from 66% to 57% (p < 0.001) after the publication of the second guideline; the highest reduction was in younger patients (from 57% to 44%, p = 0.013). Overall antibiotic prescriptions rate did not change, with 31.6% of the patients still receiving them. Our results confirm unnecessary non-evidence-based treatments in the primary care setting, with few changes after the guidelines publications.

Viral bronchiolitis management in hospitals in the UK

BACKGROUND

Viral bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospitalisation in infants less than a year old. The United Kingdom (UK) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published a guideline for the management of viral bronchiolitis in June 2015.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to prospectively survey the management of viral bronchiolitis in hospital Trusts in the UK to provide a baseline of practice prior to the publication of the 2015 NICE bronchiolitis guideline against which future practice can be assessed.

STUDY DESIGN

An electronic, structured questionnaire was sent to hospital paediatricians in the UK prior to the publication of the NICE bronchiolitis guideline via the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health e-portfolio system to assess the quality of Trust's viral bronchiolitis management guidelines.

RESULTS

Paediatricians from 111 (65% of all) UK Trusts completed an electronic questionnaire. 91% of Trusts had a bronchiolitis guideline. Overall only 18% of Trusts would be fully compliant with the NICE guideline. Between 43-100% of Trusts would be compliant with different sections of the guideline. There was variation in hospital admission criteria with respect to the need for supplemental oxygen (oxygen saturations <88% to <95%). 'Unnecessary' medications (especially bronchodilators, nebulised hypertonic saline and antibiotics) and investigations (chest x-ray and blood gas) were regularly advised. 72% of Trusts advised respiratory virus testing in all hospitalised infants and 64% created bronchiolitis bays to cohort infants.

CONCLUSIONS

There was wide variation in the management of infants with bronchiolitis in Trusts. Most bronchiolitic infants are not managed optimally in hospitals. Future guidelines should include advice on virus testing and isolation/cohorting.

A quality improvement intervention to reduce emergency department radiography for bronchiolitis

INTRODUCTION

Bronchiolitis is one of the most common infectious diseases in children and the most frequent cause of hospitalization in infants. Clinical practice guidelines recommend that a chest X-ray (CXR) should not be routinely obtained in the diagnosis of bronchiolitis, as studies have shown that they do not affect clinical outcomes, but rather lead to overuse of pharmacological agents and a longer length of hospital stay.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether active institution of bronchiolitis practice guidelines as part of a quality improvement project decreased the use of CXRs in the Pediatric Emergency Department (ED). Secondary outcomes included a decrease in the use of unnecessary medical interventions and a shorter mean hospital length of stay.

METHODS

The study was conducted at two Hadassah Medical Center Pediatric EDs. Guidelines were reviewed with the ED staff during departmental seminars by a senior pediatric pulmonologist, and posted at the physician computer stations in the ED. Prospective, post-intervention, data obtained during the study period was compared to retrospective, pre-intervention, data from the year prior to implementation of the intervention.

RESULTS

Post-intervention, 37% of patients vs. 58% in the retrospective cohort had a CXR via ED referral (p < 0.001). The use of hypertonic saline and bronchodilators decreased, while there was no significant change in antibiotic or corticosteroid use. There was a decrease in hospitalizations post-intervention (70% vs. 77%, p = 0.05).

CONCLUSION

This key intervention was successful in reinforcing the AAP guidelines, promoting greater cost-effectiveness, reducing radiation exposure, and saving valuable time and resources for the ED staff and the hospital.

The effectiveness of clinical pathway-directed care on hospitalisation-related outcomes in patients with severe traumatic brain injury: A quasi-experimental study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To compare the effectiveness of clinical pathway-directed care to usual care on hospitalisation-related outcomes in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI).

BACKGROUND

Severe traumatic brain injury is a major cause of disability and mortality in young adults. Clinical pathways endeavour to bring evidence and clinical practice closer together to foster the delivery of best practice and to improve patient outcomes.

DESIGN

Quasi-experimental study.

METHODS

The study was conducted in a trauma intensive care unit of a large teaching hospital in Egypt. Patients aged 18-60 years with a diagnosis of STBI, a Glasgow Coma Scale score between 3-8 and a nonpenetrating head injury were consecutively assigned to 15 days of care. The outcomes assessed were complications related to hospitalisation, clinical variances, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, ICU readmission rate and patient/family satisfaction.

RESULTS

Sixty participants completed the study (30 in each arm). Apart from age, there were no significant differences between groups in baseline characteristics. The clinical pathway group demonstrated statistically significantly fewer cases of hospitalisation-related complications on day 15, and a significantly shorter length of ICU stay, lower ICU readmission rate and a high level of patient/family satisfaction when compared with the usual care group. The effect of the intervention on fever, pressure ulceration, hyperglycaemia and readmission to the ICU was no longer statistically significant after controlling for age.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the current study suggest that the implementation of a clinical pathway for patients with severe TBI may be helpful in improving the patient experience as well as some hospitalisation-related outcomes.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The provision of clinical pathway-directed care in a trauma ICU may offer benefits to the patient, family and institution beyond that provided by usual care.

Management of Bronchiolitis in Community Hospitals in Ontario: a Multicentre Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

Bronchiolitis is the leading cause of hospital admission for infants, but few studies have examined management of this condition in community hospital settings. We reviewed the management of children with bronchiolitis presenting to community hospitals in Ontario.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed a consecutive cohort of infants less than 12 months old with bronchiolitis who presented to 28 Ontario community hospitals over a two-year period. Bronchiolitis was defined as first episode of wheezing associated with signs of an upper respiratory tract infection during respiratory syncytial virus season.

RESULTS

Of 543 eligible children, 161 (29.7%, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 22.3 to 37.0%) were admitted to hospital. Hospital admission rates varied widely (Interquartile Range 0%-40.3%). Bronchodilator use was widespread in the emergency department (ED) (79.7% of patients, 95% CI 75.0 to 84.5%) and on the inpatient wards (94.4% of patients, 95% CI 90.2 to 98.6%). Salbutamol was the most commonly used bronchodilator. At ED discharge 44.7% (95% CI 37.5 to 51.9%) of patients were prescribed a bronchodilator medication. Approximately one-third of ED patients (30.8%, 95% CI 22.7 to 38.8%), 50.3% (95% CI 37.7 to 63.0%) of inpatients, and 23.5% (95% CI 14.4 to 32.7) of patients discharged from the ED were treated with corticosteroids. The most common investigation obtained was a chest x-ray (60.2% of all children; 95% CI 51.9 to 68.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Infants with bronchiolitis receive medications and investigations for which there is little evidence of benefit. This suggests a need for knowledge translation strategies directed to community hospitals.

A Multicenter Collaborative to Reduce Unnecessary Care in Inpatient Bronchiolitis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Evidence-based Guidelines for acute viral bronchiolitis recommend primarily supportive care, but unnecessary care remains well documented. Published quality improvement work has been accomplished in children's hospitals, but little broad dissemination has been reported outside of those settings. We sought to use a voluntary collaborative strategy to disseminate best practices to reduce overuse of unnecessary care in children hospitalized for bronchiolitis in community settings.

METHODS

This project was a quality improvement collaborative consisting of monthly interactive webinars with online data collection and feedback. Data were collected by chart review for 2 bronchiolitis seasons, defined as January, February, and March of 2013 and 2014. Patients aged <24 months hospitalized for bronchiolitis and without chronic illness, prematurity, or intensive care use were included. Results were analyzed using run charting, analysis of means, and nonparametric statistics.

RESULTS

There were 21 participating hospitals contributing a total of 1869 chart reviews to the project, 995 preintervention and 874 postintervention. Mean use of any bronchodilator declined by 29% (P = .03) and doses per patient decreased 45% (P < .01). Mean use of any steroids declined by 68% (P < .01), and doses per patient decreased 35% (P = .04). Chest radiography use declined by 44% (P = .05). Length of stay decreased 5 hours (P < .01), and readmissions remained unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS

A voluntary collaborative was effective in reducing unnecessary care among a cohort of primarily community hospitals. Such a strategy may be generalizable to the settings where the majority of children are hospitalized in the United States.

Variability in inpatient management of children hospitalized with bronchiolitis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the variability between hospitals in diagnostic testing and management interventions for children with bronchiolitis admitted to inpatient wards and identify its association with patient characteristics.

METHODS

A prospective, multicenter (16 hospitals), multiyear (2007-2010) observational study of children (age <2 years) hospitalized with bronchiolitis. Outcomes included variability in diagnostic testing (complete blood count, chest radiographs) and medications or interventions (bronchodilator, systemic corticosteroid, antibiotic, IV placement) by hospital. A modified Respiratory Distress Severity Score was utilized to assess severity of illness. For all outcomes, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated from a model to estimate the random effects of hospital without added covariates and compared to ICCs from a second model that adjusted for demographic and clinical patient characteristics. A second unadjusted and adjusted model was created for age ≥ 2 months.

RESULTS

Of 2207 subjects, 1715 were identified as admitted to inpatient wards. We observed wide variations in the proportion of patients who received diagnostic testing (complete blood count 21-75%, chest radiograph 36-85%) and medications/interventions (bronchodilators 19-91%, systemic corticosteroids 8-44%, antibiotics 17-43%, IV placement 38-93%). Adjusting for demographic and clinical patient characteristics did not materially affect the proportion of variability attributable to hospitals (differences in ICCs with and without model adjustment <4%).

CONCLUSIONS

Wide variations in diagnostic test utilization and management interventions seen among children with bronchiolitis treated on the inpatient wards at 16 US hospitals were not attributable to demographic or clinical patient characteristics. These results further support efforts to standardize care for bronchiolitis through active quality improvement strategies.

Organisational interventions to reduce length of stay in hospital: a rapid evidence assessment

Background

Available evidence on effective interventions to reduce length of stay in hospital is wide-ranging and complex, with underlying factors including those acting at the health system, organisational and patient levels, and the interface between these. There is a need to better understand the diverse literature on reducing the length of hospital stay.

Objectives

This study sought to (i) describe the nature of interventions that have been used to reduce length of stay in acute care hospitals; (ii) identify the factors that are known to influence length of stay; and (iii) assess the impact of interventions on patient outcomes, service outcomes and costs.

Data sources

We searched MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE, the Health Management Information Consortium and System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe for the period January 1995 to January 2013 with no limitation of publication type.

Methods

We conducted a rapid evidence synthesis of the peer-reviewed literature on organisational interventions set in or initiated from acute hospitals. We considered evidence published between 2003 and 2013. Data were analysed drawing on the principles of narrative synthesis. We also carried out interviews with eight NHS managers and clinical leads in four sites in England.

Results

A total of 53 studies met our inclusion criteria, including 19 systematic reviews and 34 primary studies. Although the overall evidence base was varied and frequently lacked a robust study design, we identified a range of interventions that showed potential to reduce length of stay. These were multidisciplinary team working, for example some forms of organised stroke care; improved discharge planning; early supported discharge programmes; and care pathways. Nursing-led inpatient units were associated with improved outcomes but, if anything, increased length of stay. Factors influencing the impact of interventions on length of stay included contextual factors and the population targeted. The evidence was mixed with regard to the extent to which interventions seeking to reduce length of stay were associated with cost savings.

Limitations

We only considered assessments of interventions which provided a quantitative estimate of the impact of the given organisational intervention on length of hospital stay. There was a general lack of robust evidence and poor reporting, weakening the conclusions that can be drawn from the review.

Conclusions

The design and implementation of an intervention seeking to reduce (directly or indirectly) the length of stay in hospital should be informed by local context and needs. This involves understanding how the intervention is seeking to change processes and behaviours that are anticipated, based on the available evidence, to achieve desired outcomes (‘theory of change’). It will also involve assessing the organisational structures and processes that will need to be put in place to ensure that staff who are expected to deliver the intervention are appropriately prepared and supported. With regard to future research, greater attention should be given to the theoretical underpinning of the design, implementation and evaluation of interventions or programmes. There is a need for further research using appropriate methodology to assess the effectiveness of different types of interventions in different settings. Different evaluation approaches may be useful, and closer relationships between researchers and NHS organisations would enable more formative evaluation. Full economic costing should be undertaken where possible, including considering the cost implications for the wider local health economy.

Funding

The National Institute for Health Research Health Services and Delivery Research programme.

Effectiveness of quality improvement in hospitalization for bronchiolitis: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Bronchiolitis causes nearly 20% of all acute care hospitalizations for young children in the United States. Unnecessary testing and medication for infants with bronchiolitis contribute to cost without improving outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this study was to systematically review the quality improvement (QI) literature on inpatient bronchiolitis and to propose benchmarks for reducing unnecessary care.

METHODS

Assisted by a medical librarian, we searched Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Cochrane Library. Studies describing any active QI intervention versus usual care in hospitalized children <2 years of age were included. Data were extracted and confirmed by multiple investigators and pooled by using a random effects model. Benchmarks were calculated by using achievable benchmarks of care methods.

RESULTS

Fourteen studies involving >12000 infants were reviewed. QI interventions resulted in 16 fewer patients exposed to repeated doses of bronchodilators per 100 hospitalized (7 studies) (risk difference: 0.16 [95% confidence interval: 0.11-0.21]) and resulted in 5.3 fewer doses of bronchodilator given per patient (95% confidence interval: 2.1-8.4). Interventions resulted in fewer hospitalized children exposed to steroids (5 per 100), chest radiography (9 per 100), and antibiotics (4 per 100). No significant harms were reported. Benchmarks derived from the reported data are: repeated bronchodilator use, 16%; steroid use, 1%; chest radiography use, 42%; and antibiotic use, 17%. The study's heterogeneity limited the ability to classify specific characteristics of effective QI interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

QI strategies have been demonstrated to achieve lower rates of unnecessary care in children hospitalized with viral bronchiolitis than are the norm.

Diagnosis and treatment of bronchiolitis in Finnish and Swedish children's hospitals

AIM

There is no widely accepted consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of bronchiolitis. This study describes current practices in Finnish and Swedish hospitals.

METHODS

A questionnaire on the diagnosis and treatment of bronchiolitis in children below 2 years of age was sent to all Finnish and Swedish hospitals providing inpatient care for children. All 22 Finnish hospitals answered, covering 100% of the <12-month-old population and 21 of the 37 Swedish hospitals responded, covering 74%.

RESULTS

The mean upper age limit for bronchiolitis was 12.7 months in Finnish hospitals and 12.5 months in Swedish hospitals. In both, laboured breathing, chest retractions and fine crackles were highlighted as the main clinical findings, followed by prolonged expiration. The mean value for the lowest acceptable saturation in room air was 94% in Finnish hospitals and 93% in Swedish hospitals. The most important factors influencing hospitalisation were young age, desaturation and inability to take oral fluids. Finnish doctors preferred intravenous routes, and Swedish doctors preferred nasogastric tubes for supplementary feeding. The first-line drug therapy was inhaled racemic adrenaline in Finland and inhaled levo-adrenaline in Sweden.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis and treatment of bronchiolitis is fairly similar in Finnish and Swedish hospitals.

Surfactant deficiency in infants with severe acute viral bronchiolitis

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate surfactant content and function through the lamellar body count (LBC) and stable microbubble test (SMT) in mechanically ventilated infants with severe acute viral bronchiolitis.

STUDY DESIGN

Controlled cross-sectional study of 32 infants receiving mechanical ventilation: 16 with a diagnosis of acute viral bronchiolitis and 16 with normal lungs. Tracheal fluid was collected and LBC was performed in an automated cell counter. Samples were kept frozen and thawed for testing. At the time of analysis, samples were diluted in a dithiothreitol solution, vortexed for 10 seconds, and aspirated by the cell counter. SMT was performed using the Pattle technique.

RESULTS

In the bronchiolitis group, the median (IQR) LBC was significantly lower than in the control group: 130,000 (61,250-362,250) vs. 518,000 (180,250-896,000) lamellar bodies/μL; P = .003. Median (IQR) SMT values were also significantly lower in the bronchiolitis group: 10 (2-13) vs. 400 (261-615) microbubbles/mm2; P < .001.

CONCLUSIONS

Infants with acute viral bronchiolitis have reduced surfactant content and function. We speculate that these simple tests may be useful to identify infants with bronchiolitis who would benefit from surfactant replacement therapy.

Inpatient bronchiolitis guideline implementation and resource utilization

BACKGROUND

Provider-dependent practice variation in children hospitalized with bronchiolitis is not uncommon. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) can streamline practice and reduce utilization however, CPG implementation is complex.

METHODS

A multidisciplinary team developed and implemented CPGs for management of bronchiolitis for children <2 years old. Children with comorbidities, ICU admissions, and outside hospital transfers were excluded. Implementation involved teamwork and collaboration, provider education, online access to CPGs, order sets, data sharing, and monthly team meetings. Resource utilization was defined as use of chest x-rays (CXRs), antibiotics, steroids, and more than 2 doses of inhaled bronchodilator use. Outcome metrics included length of stay (LOS) and readmission rate. Bronchiolitis season was defined as September to April. Data were collected for 2 seasons post implementation.

RESULTS

The number CPG-eligible patients in the pre- and 2 postimplementation periods were similar (1244, preimplementation; 1159, postimplementation season 1; 1283 postimplementation season 2). CXRs decreased from 59.7% to 45.1% (P < .0001) in season 1 to 39% (P < .0001) in season 2. Bronchodilator use decreased from 27% to 20% (P < .01) in season 1 to 14% (P < .002) in season 2. Steroid use significantly reduced from 19% to 11% (P < .01). Antibiotic use did not change significantly (P = .16). LOS decreased from 2.3 to 1.8 days (P < .0001) in season 1 and 1.9 days (P < .05) in season 2. All-cause 7-day readmission rate did not change (P = .45).

CONCLUSIONS

Bronchiolitis CPG implementation resulted in reduced use of CXRs, bronchodilators, steroids, and LOS without affecting 7-day all-cause readmissions.

Impact of home oxygen therapy on hospital stay for infants with acute bronchiolitis

Acute bronchiolitis has been associated with an increasing hospitalization rate over the past decades. The aim of this paper was to estimate the impact of home oxygen therapy (HOT) on hospital stay for infants with acute bronchiolitis. A retrospective cohort study was done including all children aged ≤ 12 months discharged from a pediatric tertiary-care center with a diagnosis of bronchiolitis, between November 2007 and March 2008. Oxygen was administered according to a standardized protocol. We assumed children with the following criteria could have been sent home with O(2), instead of being kept in hospital: age ≥ 2 months, distance between home and hospital <50 km, in-hospital observation ≥ 24 h, O(2) requirement ≤ 1.0 L/min, stable clinical condition, no enteral tube feeding, and intravenous fluids <50 mL/kg/day. Children with significant underlying disease were excluded. A total of 177 children were included. Median age was 2.0 months (range 0-11), and median length of stay was 3.0 days (range 0-18). Forty-eight percent of patients (85/177) received oxygen during their hospital stay. Criteria for discharge with HOT were met in 7.1 % of patients, a mean of 1.8 days (SD 1.8) prior to real discharge. The number of patient-days of hospitalization which would have been saved had HOT been available was 21, representing 3.0 % of total patient-days of hospitalization for bronchiolitis over the study period (21/701).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study setting, few children were eligible for an early discharge with HOT. Home oxygen therapy would not significantly decrease the overall burden of hospitalization for bronchiolitis.

[Development of an internet-based clinical pathway exemplified by the fibromyalgia syndrome]

Clinical pathways (CP) are considered to be a tool of clinical process management describing the optimal route for diagnostic and therapeutic medical treatment of a specified patient. Apart from economic aspects CPs can make a contribution to optimization of health quality management as well as to improvement of medical staff and both patient satisfaction and patient safety whereas the feasibility and acceptance of evidence-based medicine guidelines are often found to be low. In order to stimulate critical discussion by offering the opportunity to easily gain first practical experience, a free web-based clinical pathway system for diagnosis and treatment for patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) will be presented.