Back to basics: an audit of measurement of infant growth at presentation to hospital

Improving anthropometric measurements in hospitalized children: A quality-improvement project

BACKGROUND

The objective of this quality-improvement project was to increase documentation rates of anthropometrics (measured weight, length/height, and body mass index [BMI], which are critical to identify patients at malnutrition (undernutrition) risk) from <50% to 80% within 24 hours of hospital admission for pediatric patients.

METHODS

Multidisciplinary champion teams on surgical, cardiac, and intensive care (ICU) pilot units were established to identify and iteratively test interventions addressing barriers to documentation from May 2016 to June 2018. Percentage of patients with documented anthropometrics <24 h of admission was assessed monthly by statistical process control methodology. Percentage of patients at malnutrition (undernutrition) risk by anthropometrics was compared by χ2 for 4 months before and after intervention.

RESULTS

Anthropometric documentation rates significantly increased (P < 0.001 for all): BMI, from 11% to 89% (surgical), 33% to 57% (cardiac), and 16% to 51% (ICU); measured weight, from 24% to 88% (surgical), 69% to 83% (cardiac), and 51% to 67% (ICU); and length/height, from 12% to 89% (surgical), 38% to 57% (cardiac), and 26% to 63% (ICU). Improvement hospital-wide was observed (BMI, 42% to 70%, P < 0.001) with formal dissemination tactics. For pilot units, moderate/severe malnutrition (undernutrition) rates tripled (1.2% [24 of 2081] to 3.4% [81 of 2374], P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Documentation of anthropometrics on admission substantially improved after establishing multidisciplinary champion teams. Goal rate (80%) was achieved within 26 months for all anthropometrics in the surgical unit and for weight in the cardiac unit. Improved documentation rates led to significant increase in identification of patients at malnutrition (undernutrition) risk.

Measurement of Head Circumference Using a Smartphone: Feasibility Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Accurate head circumference (HC) measurement is essential when assessing neonates and infants. Tape measure HC measurements are prone to errors, particularly when performed by parents/guardians, due to individual differences in head shape, hair style and texture, subject cooperation, and examiner techniques, including tape measure placement and tautness. There is, therefore, the need for a more reliable method.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the validity, reliability, and consistency of HC app measurement compared to the current standard of practice, serving as a proof-of-concept for use by health care professionals.

METHODS

We recruited infants attending the neurosurgery clinic, and parents/guardians were approached and consented to participate in the study. Along with the standard head circumference measurement, measurements were taken with the head circumference app (HC app) developed in-house, and we also collected baseline medical history and characteristics. For the statistical analysis, we used RStudio (version 4.1.1). In summary, we analyzed covariance and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to compare the measurement's within-rater and interrater reliability. The F test was used to analyze the variance between measurements and the Bland-Altman agreement, t test, and correlation coefficients were used to compare the tape measurement to the measures taken by the HC app. We also used nonvalidated questionnaires to explore parental or guardians' experiences, assess their views on app utility, and collect feedback.

RESULTS

The total number of recruited patients was 37. Comparison between the app measurements and the measurements with a tape measure showed poor reliability (ICC=0.177) and wide within-app variations (ICC=0.341). The agreement between the measurements done by parents/guardians and the tape measurements done by the researcher was good (ICC=0.901). Parental/guardian feedback was overall very positive, with most of the parents/guardians reporting that the app was easy to use (n=31, 84%) and that they are happy to use the app in an unsupervised setting, provided that they are assured of the measurement quality.

CONCLUSIONS

We developed this project as a proof-of-concept study, and as such, the app has shown great potential to be used both in a clinical setting and by parents/guardians in their own homes.

Characteristics associated with pediatric growth measurement collection in electronic medical records: a retrospective observational study

Background

Complete growth measurements are an essential part of pediatric care providing a proxy for a child’s overall health. This study describes the frequency of well-child visits, documented growth measurements, and clinic and provider factors associated with measurement.

Methods

Retrospective cross-sectional study utilizing electronic medical records (EMRs) from primary care clinics between 2015 and 2017 in Manitoba, Canada. This study assessed the presence of recorded height, weight and head circumference among children (0–24 months) who visited one of 212 providers participating in the Manitoba Primary Care Research Network. Descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses assessed clinic, provider, and patient factors associated with children having complete growth measurements.

Results

Our sample included 4369 children. The most frequent growth measure recorded was weight (79.2% n = 3460) followed by height (70.8% n = 3093) and head circumference (51.4% n = 2246). 67.5% of children (n = 2947) had at least one complete growth measurement recorded (i.e. weight, height and head circumference) and 13.7% (n = 599) had complete growth measurements at all well-child intervals attended. Pediatricians had 2.7 higher odds of documenting complete growth measures within well-child intervals compared to family physicians (95% CI 1.8–3.8). Additionally, urban located clinics (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2–2.5), Canadian trained providers (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4–3.7), small practice size (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.2–2.2) and salaried providers (OR 3.4, 95% CI 2.2–5.2) had higher odds of documented growth measures.

Conclusions

Growth measurements are recorded in EMRs but documentation is variable based on clinic and provider factors. Pediatric growth measures at primary care appointments can improve primary prevention and surveillance of child health outcomes.

Nutritional Assessment and Status of Hospitalized Infants

OBJECTIVES

Malnutrition during infancy has long-term adverse consequences for both physical and psychological development. Early detection of malnutrition among hospitalized infants is essential to provide optimal nutrition support. The primary aim of the present study was to investigate the nutritional status of hospitalized infants using 2 methods: the Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA) and anthropometric measurement. We also investigated diagnostic category associated with nutritional status, the mean anthropometric z scores, and explored the association between malnutrition and nutrition focused variables.

METHODS

Nutritional status of 110 hospitalized infants ages 31 days to 12 months was investigated using the SGNA and anthropometric measurements converted to z scores.

RESULTS

Utilizing the SGNA, 78 (70.9%) infants were classified as having normal nutritional status, 30 (27.3%) were moderately malnourished, and 2 (1.8%) were severely malnourished. The proportion of infants with acute malnutrition (weight-for-length z score <-2) was 16.4%, and chronic malnutrition (length-for-age z score <-2) was 3.6%. The mean anthropometric z scores of infants were significantly lower in infants identified as moderately and severely malnourished using the SGNA. Decrease in serial weight (odds ratio [OR] 44.4; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.3-451.5), having prolonged gastrointestinal symptoms (OR 18.8; 95% CI: 1.5-234.7), and reduced nutrition-related functional capacity (OR 27.6; 95% CI 2.5-301.7) were associated with malnutrition after adjusting for sex, age, and length of hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Regardless of the method applied, cases of malnutrition amongst hospitalized infants were identified. The SGNA is a comprehensive approach to identifying malnutrition in hospitalized infants.