Care of Injured Children Compared to Adults at District and Regional Hospitals in Ghana and the Impact of a Trauma Intake Form: A Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Trial.
Checklist
Ghana
Non-tertiary hospital
Pediatric
Trauma care
Trauma intake form
Journal
Journal of pediatric surgery
ISSN: 1531-5037
Titre abrégé: J Pediatr Surg
Pays: United States
ID NLM: 0052631
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
10 Dec 2023
10 Dec 2023
Historique:
received:
23
08
2023
revised:
16
11
2023
accepted:
03
12
2023
medline:
29
12
2023
pubmed:
29
12
2023
entrez:
28
12
2023
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a standardized trauma intake form (TIF) to improve achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs) of initial trauma care among injured children, compared to adults, at non-tertiary hospitals in Ghana. A stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial was performed with research assistants directly observing the management of injured patients before and after introducing the TIF at emergency units of 8 non-tertiary hospitals for 17.5 months. Differences in outcomes between children and adults in periods before and after TIF introduction were determined with multivariable logistic regression. Differences in outcomes among children after TIF introduction were determined using generalized linear mixed regression. Management of 3889 injured patients was observed; 757 (19%) were children <18 years. Trauma care KPIs at baseline were lower for children compared to adults. Improvements in primary survey KPIs were observed among children after TIF introduction. Examples include airway assessment [279 (71%) to 359 (98%); adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 74.42, p = 0.005)] and chest examination [225 (58%) to 349 (95%); AOR 53.80, p = 0.002)]. However, despite these improvements, achievement of KPIs was still lower compared to adults. Examples are pelvic fracture evaluation [children: 295 (80%) vs adults: 1416 (88%), AOR: 0.56, p = 0.001] and respiratory rate assessment (children: 310 (84%) vs adults: 1458 (91%), AOR: 058, p = 0.030). While the TIF was effective in improving most KPIs of pediatric trauma care, more targeted education is needed to bridge the gap in quality between pediatric and adult trauma care at non-tertiary hospitals in Ghana and other low- and middle-income countries. Stepped-wedged cluster randomized controlled trial. I.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a standardized trauma intake form (TIF) to improve achievement of key performance indicators (KPIs) of initial trauma care among injured children, compared to adults, at non-tertiary hospitals in Ghana.
METHODS
METHODS
A stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial was performed with research assistants directly observing the management of injured patients before and after introducing the TIF at emergency units of 8 non-tertiary hospitals for 17.5 months. Differences in outcomes between children and adults in periods before and after TIF introduction were determined with multivariable logistic regression. Differences in outcomes among children after TIF introduction were determined using generalized linear mixed regression.
RESULTS
RESULTS
Management of 3889 injured patients was observed; 757 (19%) were children <18 years. Trauma care KPIs at baseline were lower for children compared to adults. Improvements in primary survey KPIs were observed among children after TIF introduction. Examples include airway assessment [279 (71%) to 359 (98%); adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 74.42, p = 0.005)] and chest examination [225 (58%) to 349 (95%); AOR 53.80, p = 0.002)]. However, despite these improvements, achievement of KPIs was still lower compared to adults. Examples are pelvic fracture evaluation [children: 295 (80%) vs adults: 1416 (88%), AOR: 0.56, p = 0.001] and respiratory rate assessment (children: 310 (84%) vs adults: 1458 (91%), AOR: 058, p = 0.030).
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
While the TIF was effective in improving most KPIs of pediatric trauma care, more targeted education is needed to bridge the gap in quality between pediatric and adult trauma care at non-tertiary hospitals in Ghana and other low- and middle-income countries.
TYPE OF STUDY
METHODS
Stepped-wedged cluster randomized controlled trial.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE
METHODS
I.
Identifiants
pubmed: 38154994
pii: S0022-3468(23)00732-7
doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2023.12.001
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflict of interest.