Association Between Implementation of Clinical Practice Guidelines and Outcome for Traumatic Brain Injury

Clinical practice guidelines for the management of adult patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction: a systematic review protocol

INTRODUCTION

Neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) both threatens the health of affected patients long-term and also has a significantly negative impact on the patients' quality of life. present, many clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have been developed for NLUTD patients, but these CPGs may confuse healthcare professionals and patients due to their great difference in terms of scope, quality and content. This review aims to identify the CPGs for NLUTD patients published from 2012 to 2022, assess their quality and then analyse them in an integrated manner.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will systematically search electronic healthcare databases (English databases including PubMed, EMBASE, OVID, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, UpToDate, and Best Practice and Chinese databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Periodical Resource Integration Service Platform and SinoMed), online CPG repositories and relevant professional association websites to identify eligible CPGs. The CPGs published in English and Chinese with full texts available within the period from January 2012 to March 2022 will be included in this study. The Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) II will be used to assess the quality of included CPGs. According to the predesigned data table, the general characteristics of these CPGs, proposed recommendations and their quality of evidence, strength of recommendation and other information will be extracted. Qualitative thematic analysis will be applied to the extracted recommendations. A summary of the proposed recommendations, their quality of evidence, strength of recommendation and other information will eventually be described in a table. This review is expected to identify knowledge gaps in current CPGs and to identify the areas of the proposed recommendations derived from low-level evidence. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION : This systematic review does not involve the participation of any subjects, and therefore no ethical approval is required. The findings of this review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated via conference presentations.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42022318180.

Scaling up of safety and quality improvement interventions in perioperative care: a systematic scoping review of implementation strategies and effectiveness

BACKGROUND

Globally, 5 billion people lack access to safe surgical care with more deaths due to lack of quality care rather than lack of access. While many proven quality improvement (QI) interventions exist in high-income countries, implementing them in low/middle-income countries (LMICs) faces further challenges. Currently, theory-driven, systematically articulated knowledge of the factors that support successful scale-up of QI in perioperative care in these settings is lacking. We aimed to identify all perioperative safety and QI interventions applied at scale in LMICs and evaluate their implementation mechanisms using implementation theory.

METHODS

Systematic scoping review of perioperative QI interventions in LMICs from 1960 to 2020. Studies were identified through Medline, EMBASE and Google Scholar. Data were extracted in two phases: (1) abstract review to identify the range of QI interventions; (2) studies describing scale-up (three or more sites), had full texts retrieved and analysed for; implementation strategies and scale-up frameworks used; and implementation outcomes reported.

RESULTS

We screened 45 128 articles, identifying 137 studies describing perioperative QI interventions across 47 countries. Only 31 of 137 (23%) articles reported scale-up with the most common intervention being the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist. The most common implementation strategies were training and educating stakeholders, developing stakeholder relationships, and using evaluative and iterative strategies. Reporting of implementation mechanisms was generally poor; and although the components of scale-up frameworks were reported, relevant frameworks were rarely referenced.

CONCLUSION

Many studies report implementation of QI interventions, but few report successful scale-up from single to multiple-site implementation. Greater use of implementation science methodology may help determine what works, where and why, thereby aiding more widespread scale-up and dissemination of perioperative QI interventions.

A pilot living clinical practice guidelines approach was feasible and acceptable to guideline panel members

OBJECTIVES

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) help to translate best available evidence into clinical practice but can be challenging to keep current due to their resource intensive nature. A "living" process that is used to continually update CPGs may therefore be of value.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

This pilot study assesses the development of a living CPG protocol based on the CanPainSCI CPG. Two "living CPG" update searches were performed; resource costs and acceptability were assessed by a research team across Australia and Canada RESULTS: Two updates were completed over 3 years. Literature searches and data extraction were completed by trainees on 119 and 58 papers. Eight papers were included and reviewed by 14 expert panel members. Resource usage included a total 43 hours of screening by trainees at $2,356 (USD), 24 hours of expert panel review at $3,141 (USD) and 30 hours of project management at $3,241 (USD). Reviewers were generally satisfied with the process. All reviewers agreed that incorporating a living guidelines approach would be useful.

CONCLUSION

This paper outlines the process of maintaining a CPG through a living guideline process and provides resource costs and acceptability data which may aid stakeholders in the development of future CPGs.

Effect of an Educational Intervention on the Knowledge about Traumatic Brain Injury Guidelines among Clinical Nurses

Objective Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of death and disability throughout the world including developing countries like India. Adherence to guideline based TBI management has proven to decrease death rate and improve neurological outcomes. This study aimed to assess the knowledge of TBI guidelines among clinical nurses caring for TBI patients, and to determine the effect of an educational intervention on their knowledge.

Methods Preexperimental, one group pretest and posttest design was used. A purposive sample of 60 nurses was included in the study. A structured questionnaire was prepared to assess the knowledge of nurses. Educational intervention was given in the form of a planned teaching program that was prepared based on the national TBI guidelines.

Results There was a significant gain in the knowledge scores of the nurses after the educational intervention when compared with the knowledge scores before the intervention (p = 0.001) Nurses who were experienced more than 10 years were found to have significantly higher knowledge score than others with lesser years of experience.

Discussion This study demonstrates important knowledge gap about TBI guidelines among clinical nurses. Educational interventions can be effectively used to improve the knowledge about TBI guidelines among nurses.

Clinical guidelines for traumatic brain injuries in children and boys

The main aim of management of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is to hold normal ranges for optimizing the most proper outcomes. However, to provide physiologic requirements to an injured brain it is very important to enhance the quality of recovery and minimize secondary injuries. The aim of study is to identify proper guidelines to manage pediatric TBI. A comprehensive research was conducted on biomedical and pharmacologic bibliographic databases of life sciences, i.e., PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, LILACS database, global independent network of Cochrane, Science Direct and global health library of Global Index Medicus (GIM) from 2000 to 2019. Main objective of this study was to provide a comprehensive review of available clinical practice guidelines for TBI. These guidelines can be administered to a pediatric population to improve the quality of clinical practice for TBI. These guidelines could be applied worldwide, despite different traditional demographic and geographic boundaries, which could affect pediatric populations in various ranges of ages. Accordingly, advances in civil foundations and reforms of health policies may decrease pediatric TBI socioeconomic burdens.

A systematic review of the content and quality of clinical practice guidelines for management of the neurogenic bladder following spinal cord injury

INTRODUCTION

Neurogenic bladder following acute spinal cord injury (SCI) increases urinary tract infection (UTI) risk and affects quality of life and health system costs.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify, describe and evaluate quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for managing neurogenic bladder following SCI.

METHODS

A comprehensive search covered six electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Health Systems Evidence, Cochrane, CINAHL, Epistomonikos) and 12 CPG portals. Inclusion criteria were English language CPG; includes recommendations for managing neurogenic bladder in adults; all phases of care; published 2011 onwards in peer-reviewed journal/CPG portal. For eligible CPGs, key characteristics including years covered by CPG searching and number of neurogenic bladder recommendations were extracted. Quality appraisal used the AGREE II instrument. Appraiser agreement was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

Searching yielded 4028 citations and eight relevant CPGs. Collectively the CPGs contained 304 recommendations. Over half (160) pertained to assessment, surgery or education. Most surgery recommendations were from older CPGs; more recent CPGs emphasised conservative therapy. Methodological quality across CPGs was good in the domains of 'clarity of presentation' (84% mean domain score), 'scope and purpose' (72%) and 'editorial independence' (68%). There were shortcomings in the domains of 'rigor of development' (52%) 'stakeholder involvement' (42%) and 'applicability' (33%).

CONCLUSION

CPGs for the management of neurogenic bladder following SCI are generally robust in stating their scope and clearly presenting recommendations. Only three CPGs attained domain scores over 70% pertaining to methodological rigor. Future CPGs should also focus on providing implementation / audit resources and incorporating patient perspectives.

A systematic review and quality analysis of pediatric traumatic brain injury clinical practice guidelines

BACKGROUND

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity for children globally. Adherence to evidence-based treatment guidelines have been shown to improve TBI outcomes. To inform the creation of a pediatric TBI management guideline for a low and middle income country context, we assessed the quality of available clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the acute management pediatric TBI.

METHODS

Articles were identified and retrieved from MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, LILACS, Africa-Wide Information and Global Index Medicus. These articles were screened by four reviewers independently. Based on the eligibility criteria, with the exception of literature reviews, opinion papers and editor's letters, articles published from 1995 to November 11, 2016 which covered clinical recommendations, clinical practice or treatment guidelines for the acute management of pediatric TBI (within 24 hours) were included for review. A reference and citation analysis was performed. Seven independent reviewers from low, middle and high income clinical settings with knowledge of pediatric TBI management appraised the guidelines using the AGREE II instrument. Scores for the CPGs were aggregated by domain and overall assessment was determined.

RESULTS

We screened 2372 articles of which 17 were retained for data extraction and guideline appraisal. Except for one CPG from a middle income country, the majority (16/17) of the guidelines were developed in high income countries. Seven guidelines were developed specifically for the pediatric population, while the remaining CPGs addressed the acute management of TBI in both adult and pediatric populations. The New Zealand Guideline Group (NZGG, 2006) received the highest overall assessment score of 46/49 (93.88%) followed by the Scandinavian Neurotrauma Committee (SNC, 2016) with a score of 45/49 (91.84%) followed by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN, 2009) and Brain Trauma Foundation (BTF 2012) both with scores of 44/49 (89.80%). CPGs from Cincinnati Children's Hospital (CCH 2006) and Sao Paulo Medical School Hospital/Brazilian Society of Neurosurgery (USP/BSN, 2001) received the lowest score of 27/49 (55.10%) subsequently followed by the Appropriateness Criteria (ACR, 2015) with 29/49 (59.18%). The domains for scope and purpose and clarity of presentation received the highest scores across the CPGs, while applicability and editorial independence domains had the lowest scores with a wider variability in score range for rigor of development and stakeholder involvement.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review and guideline appraisal for pediatric CPGs concerning the acute management of TBI. Targeted guideline creation specific to the pediatric population has the potential to improve the quality of acute TBI CPGs. Furthermore, it is crucial to address the applicability of a guideline to translate the CPG from a published manuscript into clinically relevant local practice tools and for resource limited practice settings.

The Neuropsychology of Traumatic Brain Injury: Looking Back, Peering Ahead

The past 50 years have been a period of exciting progress in neuropsychological research on traumatic brain injury (TBI). Neuropsychologists and neuropsychological testing have played a critical role in these advances. This study looks back at three major scientific advances in research on TBI that have been critical in pushing the field forward over the past several decades: The advent of modern neuroimaging; the recognition of the importance of non-injury factors in determining recovery from TBI; and the growth of cognitive rehabilitation. Thanks to these advances, we now have a better understanding of the pathophysiology of TBI and how recovery from the injury is also shaped by pre-injury, comorbid, and contextual factors, and we also have increasing evidence that active interventions, including cognitive rehabilitation, can help to promote better outcomes. The study also peers ahead to discern two important directions that seem destined to influence research on TBI over the next 50 years: the development of large, multi-site observational studies and randomized controlled trials, bolstered by international research consortia and the adoption of common data elements; and attempts to translate research into health care and health policy by the application of rigorous methods drawn from implementation science. Future research shaped by these trends should provide critical evidence regarding the outcomes of TBI and its treatment, and should help to disseminate and implement the knowledge gained from research to the betterment of the quality of life of persons with TBI. (JINS, 2017, 23, 806-817).

Clinical Outcome of Acute Epidural Hematoma in Korea: Preliminary Report of 285 Cases Registered in the Korean Trauma Data Bank System

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this preliminary collaborative study was to assess the clinical characteristics, management, and outcome of epidural hematoma (EDH) based on the data collected and registered in the Korean Trauma Data Bank System (KTDBS).

METHODS

Of 2,698 patients registered in the KTDBS between September 2010 and March 2014, 285 patients with EDH were analyzed. Twenty-three trauma centers participated in the study voluntarily to collect data. We subcategorized the patients into two groups with good and poor outcomes. Various clinical characteristics and the time intervals with regard to treatment course were investigated to determine the relationship between these parameters and the functional outcome.

RESULTS

Of multiple parameters for this analysis, older age (p=0.0003), higher degree of brain injury (p<0.0001), cases of surgical EDH (p<0.0001), time interval from trauma to hospital before 6 hours, and the decreasing pattern of Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) between and initial and final GCS were strongly associated with poor outcome. Use of prophylactic anticonvulsant did not affect the functional outcome. There was an interesting difference in the use of mannitol in treating EDH between the urban and rural regions (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

This is the first multi-center analysis of etiology of injury, pre-hospital care, treatment, and functional outcome of EDH in Korea. The degree of brain injury and the GCS difference were notable factors that were significant in determining the functional outcome of EDH.

Quality of guidelines for cognitive rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury

INTRODUCTION

Cognitive rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury can aid in optimizing function, independence, and quality of life by addressing impairments in attention, executive function, cognitive communication, and memory. This study aimed to identify and evaluate the methodological quality of clinical practice guidelines for cognitive rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury.

METHODS

Systematic searching of databases and Web sites was undertaken between January and March 2012 to identify freely available, English language clinical practice guidelines from 2002 onward. Eligible guidelines were evaluated using the validated Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II instrument.

RESULTS

The 11 guidelines that met inclusion criteria were independently rated by 4 raters. Results of quality appraisal indicated that guidelines generally employed systematic search and appraisal methods and produced unambiguous, clearly identifiable recommendations. Conversely, only 1 guideline incorporated implementation and audit information, and there was poor reporting of processes for formulating, reviewing, and ensuring currency of recommendations and incorporating patient preferences. Intraclass correlation coefficients for agreement between raters showed high agreement (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.80) for all guidelines except for 1 (moderate agreement; intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.76).

CONCLUSION

Future guidelines should address identified limitations by providing implementation information and audit criteria, along with better reporting of guideline development processes and stakeholder engagement.

Invited commentary on Quality of care indicators for the rehabilitation of children with traumatic brain injury, and Quality of care indicators for the structure and organization of inpatient rehabilitation care of children with traumatic brain injury

Measures of structure and process in health care have been shown to be associated with care outcomes in prior research. Two articles in this issue propose measures of structure and process that may be relevant to pediatric traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. This commentary considers how these potential measures may be related to the actual treatments and services that ultimately affect patient outcomes.

Quality and consistency of guidelines for the management of mild traumatic brain injury in the emergency department

OBJECTIVES

The objective was to provide an overview of the recommendations and quality of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the emergency management of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), with a view to informing best practice and improving the consistency of recommendations.

METHODS

Electronic searches of health databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, PsycINFO), CPG clearinghouse websites, CPG developer websites, and Internet search engines up to January 2010 were conducted. CPGs were included if 1) they were published in English and freely accessible, 2) their scope included the management of mTBI in the emergency department (ED), 3) the date of last search was within the past 10 years (2000 onward), 4) systematic methods were used to search for evidence, and 5) there was an explicit link between the recommendations and the supporting evidence. Four authors independently assessed the quality of the included CPGs using the Appraisal of Guidelines, Research and Evaluation (AGREE) Instrument. The authors extracted and categorized recommendations according to initial clinical assessment, imaging, management, observation, discharge planning, and patient information and follow-up.

RESULTS

The search identified 18 potential CPGs, of which six met the inclusion criteria. The included CPGs varied in scope, target population, size, and guideline development processes. Four CPGs were assessed as "strongly recommended." The majority of CPGs did not provide information about the level of stakeholder involvement (mean AGREE standardized domain score = 57%, range = 25% to 81%), nor did they address the organizational/cost implications of applying the recommendations or provide criteria for monitoring and review of recommendations in practice (mean AGREE standardized domain score = 46.6%, range = 19% to 94%). Recommendations were mostly consistent in terms of the use of the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score (adult and pediatric) to assess the level of consciousness, initial assessment criteria, the use of computed tomography (CT) scanning as imaging investigation of choice, and the provision of patient information. The CPGs defined mTBI in a variety of ways and described different rules to determine the need for CT scanning and therefore used different criteria to identify high-risk patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher-quality CPGs for mTBI are consistent in their recommendations about assessment, imaging, and provision of patient information. There is not, however, an agreed definition of mTBI, and the quality of future CPGs could be improved with better reporting of stakeholder involvement, procedures for updating, and greater consideration of the applicability of the recommendations (cost implications, monitoring procedures). Nevertheless, guideline developers may benefit from adapting existing CPGs to their local context rather than investing in developing CPGs de novo.