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Smith GB, Prytherch DR, Meredith P, Schmidt PE. Early warning scores: unravelling detection and escalation. Int J Health Care Qual Assur 2017; 28:872-5. [PMID: 26440489 DOI: 10.1108/ijhcqa-07-2015-0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this paper is to increase understanding of how patient deterioration is detected and how clinical care escalates when early warning score (EWS) systems are used. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH The authors critically review a recent National Early Warning Score paper published in IJHCQA using personal experience and EWS-related publications, and debate the difference between detection and escalation. FINDINGS Incorrect EWS choice or poorly understood EWS escalation may result in unnecessary workloads forward and responding staff. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS EWS system implementers may need to revisit their guidance materials; medical and nurse educators may need to expand the curriculum to improve EWS system understanding and use. ORIGINALITY/VALUE The paper raises the EWS debate and alerts EWS users that scrutiny is required.
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Schmidt PE, Meredith P, Prytherch DR, Watson D, Watson V, Killen RM, Greengross P, Mohammed MA, Smith GB. Impact of introducing an electronic physiological surveillance system on hospital mortality. BMJ Qual Saf 2016; 24:176-7. [PMID: 25605956 DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Soar J, Nolan JP, Böttiger BW, Perkins GD, Lott C, Carli P, Pellis T, Sandroni C, Skrifvars MB, Smith GB, Sunde K, Deakin CD. European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation 2015: Section 3. Adult advanced life support. Resuscitation 2016; 95:100-47. [PMID: 26477701 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2015.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 916] [Impact Index Per Article: 114.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Kovacs C, Jarvis SW, Prytherch DR, Meredith P, Schmidt PE, Briggs JS, Smith GB. Comparison of the National Early Warning Score in non-elective medical and surgical patients. Br J Surg 2016; 103:1385-93. [PMID: 27487317 DOI: 10.1002/bjs.10267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2016] [Revised: 04/28/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The National Early Warning Score (NEWS) is used to identify deteriorating patients in hospital. NEWS is a better discriminator of outcomes than other early warning scores in acute medical admissions, but it has not been evaluated in a surgical population. The study aims were to evaluate the ability of NEWS to discriminate cardiac arrest, death and unanticipated ICU admission in patients admitted to surgical specialties, and to compare the performance of NEWS in admissions to medical and surgical specialties. METHODS Hospitalwide data over 31 months, from adult inpatients who stayed at least one night or died on the day of admission, were analysed. The data were categorized as elective or non-elective surgical or medical admissions. The ability of NEWS to discriminate the outcomes above in these different groups was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). RESULTS There were too few outcomes to permit meaningful comparison of elective admissions, so the analysis was constrained to comparison of non-elective admissions. NEWS performed equally well, or better, for surgical as for medical patients. For death within 24 h the AUROC for surgical admissions was 0·914 (95 per cent c.i. 0·907 to 0·922), compared with 0·902 (0·898 to 0·905) for medical admissions. For the combined outcome of any of death, cardiac arrest or unanticipated ICU admission, the AUROC was 0·874 (0·868 to 0·880) for surgical admissions and 0·874 (0·871 to 0·877) for medical admissions. CONCLUSION NEWS discriminated deterioration in non-elective surgical patients at least as well as in non-elective medical patients.
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Smith GB. Vital signs: Vital for surviving in-hospital cardiac arrest? Resuscitation 2016; 98:A3-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2015.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Robinson EJ, Smith GB, Power GS, Harrison DA, Nolan J, Soar J, Spearpoint K, Gwinnutt C, Rowan KM. Risk-adjusted survival for adults following in-hospital cardiac arrest by day of week and time of day: observational cohort study. BMJ Qual Saf 2015; 25:832-841. [PMID: 26658774 PMCID: PMC5136724 DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2015-004223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2015] [Revised: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 11/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Internationally, hospital survival is lower for patients admitted at weekends and at night. Data from the UK National Cardiac Arrest Audit (NCAA) indicate that crude hospital survival was worse after in-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA) at night versus day, and at weekends versus weekdays, despite similar frequency of events. OBJECTIVE To describe IHCA demographics during three day/time periods-weekday daytime (Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 19:59), weekend daytime (Saturday and Sunday, 08:00 to 19:59) and night-time (Monday to Sunday, 20:00 to 07:59)-and to compare the associated rates of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) for >20 min (ROSC>20 min) and survival to hospital discharge, adjusted for risk using previously developed NCAA risk models. To consider whether any observed difference could be attributed to differences in the case mix of patients resident in hospital and/or the administered care. METHODS We performed a prospectively defined analysis of NCAA data from 27 700 patients aged ≥16 years receiving chest compressions and/or defibrillation and attended by a hospital-based resuscitation team in response to a resuscitation (2222) call in 146 UK acute hospitals. RESULTS Risk-adjusted outcomes (OR (95% CI)) were worse (p<0.001) for both weekend daytime (ROSC>20 min 0.88 (0.81 to 0.95); hospital survival 0.72 (0.64 to 0.80)), and night-time (ROSC>20 min 0.72 (0.68 to 0.76); hospital survival 0.58 (0.54 to 0.63)) compared with weekday daytime. The effects were stronger for non-shockable than shockable rhythms, but there was no significant interaction between day/time of arrest and age, or day/time of arrest and arrest location. While many daytime IHCAs involved procedures, restricting the analyses to IHCAs in medical admissions with an arrest location of ward produced results that are broadly in line with the primary analyses. CONCLUSIONS IHCAs attended by the hospital-based resuscitation team during nights and weekends have substantially worse outcomes than during weekday daytimes. Organisational or care differences at night and weekends, rather than patient case mix, appear to be responsible.
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Monsieurs KG, Nolan JP, Bossaert LL, Greif R, Maconochie IK, Nikolaou NI, Perkins GD, Soar J, Truhlář A, Wyllie J, Zideman DA, Alfonzo A, Arntz HR, Askitopoulou H, Bellou A, Beygui F, Biarent D, Bingham R, Bierens JJ, Böttiger BW, Bossaert LL, Brattebø G, Brugger H, Bruinenberg J, Cariou A, Carli P, Cassan P, Castrén M, Chalkias AF, Conaghan P, Deakin CD, De Buck ED, Dunning J, De Vries W, Evans TR, Eich C, Gräsner JT, Greif R, Hafner CM, Handley AJ, Haywood KL, Hunyadi-Antičević S, Koster RW, Lippert A, Lockey DJ, Lockey AS, López-Herce J, Lott C, Maconochie IK, Mentzelopoulos SD, Meyran D, Monsieurs KG, Nikolaou NI, Nolan JP, Olasveengen T, Paal P, Pellis T, Perkins GD, Rajka T, Raffay VI, Ristagno G, Rodríguez-Núñez A, Roehr CC, Rüdiger M, Sandroni C, Schunder-Tatzber S, Singletary EM, Skrifvars MB, Smith GB, Smyth MA, Soar J, Thies KC, Trevisanuto D, Truhlář A, Vandekerckhove PG, de Voorde PV, Sunde K, Urlesberger B, Wenzel V, Wyllie J, Xanthos TT, Zideman DA. European Resuscitation Council Guidelines for Resuscitation 2015: Section 1. Executive summary. Resuscitation 2015; 95:1-80. [PMID: 26477410 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2015.07.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 564] [Impact Index Per Article: 62.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Mitchell C, Meredith P, Richardson M, Greengross P, Smith GB. Reducing the number and impact of outbreaks of nosocomial viral gastroenteritis: time-series analysis of a multidimensional quality improvement initiative. BMJ Qual Saf 2015; 25:466-74. [PMID: 26350067 DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2015-004134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nosocomial norovirus infections and their control measures disrupt patient care, increase staff workload and raise healthcare costs. OBJECTIVE To determine the impact on outbreaks of nosocomial viral gastroenteritis, staff and patients affected, and bed closures of a multidimensional quality improvement (QI) initiative focused on education; improved patient surveillance; early automated recognition and notification of infection of index patients; and proactive care and control measures. METHODS In a pragmatic, retrospective, observational study, we compared numbers of suspected/confirmed norovirus outbreaks at Portsmouth Hospitals National Health Service Trust (PHT) with regional and national data, before and after a multidimensional QI initiative. We also compared mean daily bed closures due to norovirus-like symptoms. At PHT only we recorded patient and staff numbers with norovirus-like symptoms, and days of disruption due to outbreaks. RESULTS Annual outbreak numbers fell between 2009-2010 and 2010-2014 by 91% at PHT compared with 15% and 28% for Wessex and England, respectively. After April 2010, recorded outbreaks were 8 (PHT), 383 (Wessex) and 5063 (England). For the winter periods from 2010/2011 to 2013/2014, total bed closures due to norovirus were 38 (PHT; mean 0.5 per week), 3565 (Wessex hospitals; mean 48.8 per hospital per week) and 2730 (England; mean 37.4 per hospital per week). At PHT, patients affected by norovirus-like symptoms fell by 92%, affected staff by 81% and days of disruption by 88%. CONCLUSIONS A multiyear QI programme, including use of real-time electronic identification of patients with norovirus-like symptoms, and an early robust response to suspected infection, resulted in virtual elimination of outbreaks. The ability to identify index cases of infection early facilitates prompt action to prevent ongoing transmission and appears to be a crucial intervention.
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Jarvis S, Kovacs C, Briggs J, Meredith P, Schmidt PE, Featherstone PI, Prytherch DR, Smith GB. Can binary early warning scores perform as well as standard early warning scores for discriminating a patient's risk of cardiac arrest, death or unanticipated intensive care unit admission? Resuscitation 2015; 93:46-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2015.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2014] [Revised: 04/20/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Clifton DA, Clifton L, Sandu DM, Smith GB, Tarassenko L, Vollam SA, Watkinson PJ. 'Errors' and omissions in paper-based early warning scores: the association with changes in vital signs--a database analysis. BMJ Open 2015; 5:e007376. [PMID: 26141302 PMCID: PMC4499704 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-007376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To understand factors associated with errors using an established paper-based early warning score (EWS) system. We investigated the types of error, where they are most likely to occur, and whether 'errors' can predict subsequent changes in patient vital signs. METHODS Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected early warning system database from a single large UK teaching hospital. RESULTS 16,795 observation sets, from 200 postsurgical patients, were collected. Incomplete observation sets were more likely to contain observations which should have led to an alert than complete observation sets (15.1% vs 7.6%, p<0.001), but less likely to have an alerting score correctly calculated (38.8% vs 30.0%, p<0.001). Mis-scoring was much more common when leaving a sequence of three or more consecutive observation sets with aggregate scores of 0 (55.3%) than within the sequence (3.0%, p<0.001). Observation sets that 'incorrectly' alerted were more frequently followed by a correctly alerting observation set than error-free non-alerting observation sets (14.7% vs 4.2%, p<0.001). Observation sets that 'incorrectly' did not alert were more frequently followed by an observation set that did not alert than error-free alerting observation sets (73.2% vs 45.8%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Missed alerts are particularly common in incomplete observation sets and when a patient first becomes unstable. Observation sets that 'incorrectly' alert or 'incorrectly' do not alert are highly predictive of the next observation set, suggesting that clinical staff detect both deterioration and improvement in advance of the EWS system by using information not currently encoded within it. Work is urgently needed to understand how best to capture this information.
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Smith GB, Welch J, DeVita MA, Hillman KM, Jones D. Reply to Letter: 'Re: Education for cardiac arrest - Treatment or prevention?'. Resuscitation 2015; 96:e13-4. [PMID: 26100938 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2015.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Jarvis SW, Kovacs C, Briggs J, Meredith P, Schmidt PE, Featherstone PI, Prytherch DR, Smith GB. Are observation selection methods important when comparing early warning score performance? Resuscitation 2015; 90:1-6. [PMID: 25668311 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2015.01.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2014] [Revised: 01/19/2015] [Accepted: 01/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sicker patients generally have more vital sign assessments, particularly immediately before an adverse outcome, and especially if the vital sign monitoring schedule is driven by an early warning score (EWS) value. This lack of independence could influence the measured discriminatory performance of an EWS. METHODS We used a population of 1564,143 consecutive vital signs observation sets collected as a routine part of patients' care. We compared 35 published EWSs for their discrimination of the risk of death within 24h of an observation set using (1) all observations in our dataset, (2) one observation per patient care episode, chosen at random and (3) one observation per patient care episode, chosen as the closest to a randomly selected point in time in each episode. We compared the area under the ROC curve (AUROC) as a measure of discrimination for each of the 35 EWSs under each observation selection method and looked for changes in their rank order. RESULTS There were no significant changes in rank order of the EWSs based on AUROC between the different observation selection methods, except for one EWS that included age among its components. Whichever method of observation selection was used, the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) showed the highest discrimination of risk of death within 24h. AUROCs were higher when only one observation set was used per episode of care (significantly higher for many EWSs, including NEWS). CONCLUSIONS Vital sign measurements can be treated as if they are independent - multiple observations can be used from each episode of care--when comparing the performance and ranking of EWSs, provided no EWS includes age.
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Jarvis S, Kovacs C, Briggs J, Meredith P, Schmidt PE, Featherstone PI, Prytherch DR, Smith GB. Aggregate National Early Warning Score (NEWS) values are more important than high scores for a single vital signs parameter for discriminating the risk of adverse outcomes. Resuscitation 2015; 87:75-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2014.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2014] [Revised: 11/11/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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Gentle AR, Smith GB. Procedure for measuring simultaneously the solar and visible properties of glazing with complex internal or external structures. APPLIED OPTICS 2014; 53:7157-7167. [PMID: 25402807 DOI: 10.1364/ao.53.007157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 09/19/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Accurate solar and visual transmittances of materials in which surfaces or internal structures are complex are often not easily amenable to standard procedures with laboratory-based spectrophotometers and integrating spheres. Localized "hot spots" of intensity are common in such materials, so data on small samples is unreliable. A novel device and simple protocols have been developed and undergone validation testing. Simultaneous solar and visible transmittance and reflectance data have been acquired for skylight components and multilayer polycarbonate roof panels. The pyranometer and lux sensor setups also directly yield "light coolness" in lumens/watt. Sample areas must be large, and, although mainly in sheet form, some testing has been done on curved panels. The instrument, its operation, and the simple calculations used are described. Results on a subset of diffuse and partially diffuse materials with no hot spots have been cross checked using 150 mm integrating spheres with a spectrophotometer and the Air Mass 1.5 spectrum. Indications are that results are as good or better than with such spheres for transmittance, but reflectance techniques need refinement for some sample types.
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Schmidt PE, Meredith P, Prytherch DR, Watson D, Watson V, Killen RM, Greengross P, Mohammed MA, Smith GB. Impact of introducing an electronic physiological surveillance system on hospital mortality. BMJ Qual Saf 2014; 24:10-20. [DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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Nolan JP, Soar J, Smith GB, Gwinnutt C, Parrott F, Power S, Harrison DA, Nixon E, Rowan K. Incidence and outcome of in-hospital cardiac arrest in the United Kingdom National Cardiac Arrest Audit. Resuscitation 2014; 85:987-92. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2014.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 294] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2013] [Revised: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Harrison DA, Patel K, Nixon E, Soar J, Smith GB, Gwinnutt C, Nolan JP, Rowan KM. Development and validation of risk models to predict outcomes following in-hospital cardiac arrest attended by a hospital-based resuscitation team. Resuscitation 2014; 85:993-1000. [PMID: 24830872 PMCID: PMC4111919 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2014.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2013] [Revised: 04/16/2014] [Accepted: 05/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIM The National Cardiac Arrest Audit (NCAA) is the UK national clinical audit for in-hospital cardiac arrest. To make fair comparisons among health care providers, clinical indicators require case mix adjustment using a validated risk model. The aim of this study was to develop and validate risk models to predict outcomes following in-hospital cardiac arrest attended by a hospital-based resuscitation team in UK hospitals. METHODS Risk models for two outcomes-return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) for greater than 20min and survival to hospital discharge-were developed and validated using data for in-hospital cardiac arrests between April 2011 and March 2013. For each outcome, a full model was fitted and then simplified by testing for non-linearity, combining categories and stepwise reduction. Finally, interactions between predictors were considered. Models were assessed for discrimination, calibration and accuracy. RESULTS 22,479 in-hospital cardiac arrests in 143 hospitals were included (14,688 development, 7791 validation). The final risk model for ROSC>20min included: age (non-linear), sex, prior length of stay in hospital, reason for attendance, location of arrest, presenting rhythm, and interactions between presenting rhythm and location of arrest. The model for hospital survival included the same predictors, excluding sex. Both models had acceptable performance across the range of measures, although discrimination for hospital mortality exceeded that for ROSC>20min (c index 0.81 versus 0.72). CONCLUSIONS Validated risk models for ROSC>20min and hospital survival following in-hospital cardiac arrest have been developed. These models will strengthen comparative reporting in NCAA and support local quality improvement.
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Isaacs RA, Wee MYK, Bick DE, Beake S, Sheppard ZA, Thomas S, Hundley V, Smith GB, van Teijlingen E, Thomas PW. A national survey of obstetric early warning systems in the United Kingdom: five years on. Anaesthesia 2014; 69:687-92. [PMID: 24801160 DOI: 10.1111/anae.12708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths in the UK have recommended obstetric early warning systems for early identification of clinical deterioration to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality. This survey explored early warning systems currently used by maternity units in the UK. An electronic questionnaire was sent to all 205 lead obstetric anaesthetists under the auspices of the Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association, generating 130 (63%) responses. All respondents reported use of an obstetric early warning system, compared with 19% in a similar survey in 2007. Respondents agreed that the six most important physiological parameters to record were respiratory rate, heart rate, temperature, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and oxygen saturation. One hundred and eighteen (91%) lead anaesthetists agreed that early warning systems helped to prevent obstetric morbidity. Staffing pressures were perceived as the greatest barrier to their use, and improved audit, education and training for healthcare professionals were identified as priority areas.
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Badriyah T, Briggs JS, Meredith P, Jarvis SW, Schmidt PE, Featherstone PI, Prytherch DR, Smith GB. Decision-tree early warning score (DTEWS) validates the design of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS). Resuscitation 2013; 85:418-23. [PMID: 24361673 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2013.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 12/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
AIM OF STUDY To compare the performance of a human-generated, trial and error-optimised early warning score (EWS), i.e., National Early Warning Score (NEWS), with one generated entirely algorithmically using Decision Tree (DT) analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used DT analysis to construct a decision-tree EWS (DTEWS) from a database of 198,755 vital signs observation sets collected from 35,585 consecutive, completed acute medical admissions. We evaluated the ability of DTEWS to discriminate patients at risk of cardiac arrest, unanticipated intensive care unit admission or death, each within 24h of a given vital signs observation. We compared the performance of DTEWS and NEWS using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. RESULTS The structures of DTEWS and NEWS were very similar. The AUROC (95% CI) for DTEWS for cardiac arrest, unanticipated ICU admission, death, and any of the outcomes, all within 24h, were 0.708 (0.669-0.747), 0.862 (0.852-0.872), 0.899 (0.892-0.907), and 0.877 (0.870-0.883), respectively. Values for NEWS were 0.722 (0.685-0.759) [cardiac arrest], 0.857 (0.847-0.868) [unanticipated ICU admission}, 0.894 (0.887-0.902) [death], and 0.873 (0.866-0.879) [any outcome]. CONCLUSIONS The decision-tree technique independently validates the composition and weightings of NEWS. The DT approach quickly provided an almost identical EWS to NEWS, although one that admittedly would benefit from fine-tuning using clinical knowledge. We believe that DT analysis could be used to quickly develop candidate models for disease-specific EWSs, which may be required in future.
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DeVita MA, Hillman K, Smith GB. Resuscitation and rapid response systems. Resuscitation 2013; 85:1-2. [PMID: 24280486 DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2013.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 11/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Carr ECJ, Meredith P, Chumbley G, Killen R, Prytherch DR, Smith GB. Pain: a quality of care issue during patients' admission to hospital. J Adv Nurs 2013; 70:1391-403. [PMID: 24224703 DOI: 10.1111/jan.12301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
AIM To determine the extent of clinically significant pain suffered by hospitalized patients during their stay and at discharge. BACKGROUND The management of pain in hospitals continues to be problematic, despite long-standing awareness of the problem and improvements, e.g. acute pain teams and patient-controlled analgesia, epidural analgesia. Poorly managed pain, especially acute pain, often leads to adverse physical and psychological outcomes including persistent pain and disability. A systems approach may improve the management of pain in hospitals. DESIGN A descriptive cross-sectional exploratory design. METHOD A large electronic pain score database of vital signs and pain scores was interrogated between 1st January 2010 and 31st December 2010 to establish the proportion of hospital inpatient stays with clinically significant pain during the hospital stay and at discharge. FINDINGS A total of 810,774 pain scores were analysed, representing 38,451 patient stays. Clinically significant pain was present in 38·4% of patient stays. Across surgical categories, 54·0% of emergency admissions experienced clinically significant pain, compared with 48·0% of elective admissions. Medical areas had a summary figure of 26·5%. For 30% patients, clinically significant pain was followed by a consecutive clinically significant pain score. Only 0·2% of pain assessments were made independently of vital signs. CONCLUSION Reducing the risk of long-term persistent pain should be seen as integral to improving patient safety and can be achieved by harnessing organizational pain management processes with quality improvement initiatives. The assessment of pain alongside vital signs should be reviewed. Setting quality targets for pain are essential for improving the patient's experience.
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Smith GB, Prytherch DR. Obstetric early warning scores: much more work required. Anaesthesia 2013; 68:778-9. [PMID: 24044394 DOI: 10.1111/anae.12320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Jarvis SW, Kovacs C, Badriyah T, Briggs J, Mohammed MA, Meredith P, Schmidt PE, Featherstone PI, Prytherch DR, Smith GB. Development and validation of a decision tree early warning score based on routine laboratory test results for the discrimination of hospital mortality in emergency medical admissions. Resuscitation 2013; 84:1494-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2013.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2013] [Revised: 05/11/2013] [Accepted: 05/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Smith GB. Have we found the perfect early warning score? A view of ViEWS. Resuscitation 2013; 84:707-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2013.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2013] [Accepted: 04/02/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Smith GB, Prytherch DR, Schmidt PE, Featherstone PI, Meredith P. Response to Pieringer and Hellmich: “…Why it may be problematic to conclude that NEWS has a greater ability to discriminate patients at risk of the combined outcome of cardiac arrest, unanticipated ICU admission or death than other EWSs…”. Resuscitation 2013; 84:e75-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2013.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/01/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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