Retrospective analysis of the impact of electronic medical record alerts on low value care in a pediatric hospital

OBJECTIVES

Hospital costs continue to rise unsustainably. Up to 20% of care is wasteful including low value care (LVC). This study aimed to understand whether electronic medical record (EMR) alerts are effective at reducing pediatric LVC and measure the impact on hospital costs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Using EMR data over a 76-month period, we evaluated changes in 4 LVC practices following the implementation of EMR alerts, using time series analysis to control for underlying time-based trends, in a large pediatric hospital in Australia. The main outcome measure was the change in rate of each LVC practice. Balancing measures included the rate of alert adherence as a proxy measure for risk of alert fatigue. Hospital costs were calculated by the volume of LVC avoided multiplied by the unit costs. Costs of the intervention were calculated from clinician and analyst time required.

RESULTS

All 4 LVC practices showed a statistically significant reduction following alert implementation. Two LVC practices (blood tests) showed an abrupt change, associated with high rates of alert adherence. The other 2 LVC practices (bronchodilator use in bronchiolitis and electrocardiogram ordering for sleeping bradycardia) showed an accelerated rate of improvement compared to baseline trends with lower rates of alert adherence. Hospital savings were $325 to $180 000 per alert.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

EMR alerts are effective in reducing pediatric LVC practices and offer a cost-saving opportunity to the hospital. Further efforts to leverage EMR alerts in pediatric settings to reduce LVC are likely to support future sustainable healthcare delivery.

"Seeing the light in the shade of it": primary caregiver and youth perspectives on using an inpatient portal for pain care during hospitalization

ABSTRACT

Studies from multiple countries report that most hospitalized children, especially the youngest and sickest, experience pain that is often severe yet inadequately treated. Evidence suggests this can lead to immediate and lifelong consequences affecting children, families, and communities. Partnership and shared decision-making by children, families, and clinicians is the ideal pediatric healthcare model and can improve care quality and safety, including pain care. A growing evidence base demonstrates that inpatient portals (electronic personal health record applications linked to hospital electronic medical or health records) can improve child and family engagement, outcomes, and satisfaction during hospitalization. This study examined the perspectives of caregivers of hospitalized children and of hospitalized youth about using an inpatient portal to support their engagement in pain care while in hospital. A qualitative descriptive study design was used and 20 participants (15 caregivers and 5 youth) with various painful conditions in one pediatric hospital participated in semistructured interviews. The authors applied a reflexive content analysis to the data and developed 3 broad categories: (1) connecting and sharing knowledge about pain, (2) user-centred designs, and (3) preserving roles. These findings outlined caregiver and youth recommendations for portal configurations that deeply engage and empower children and families in pain care through multidirectional knowledge sharing, supporting caregiver and clinicians' roles without burdening, or replacing human interaction implicit in family-centered pain care. Further research should measure the impact of portals on pain-related outcomes and explore the perspectives of clinicians.

Call to focus on digital health technologies in hospitalized children's pain care: clinician experts' qualitative insights on optimizing electronic medical records to improve care

ABSTRACT

Most hospitalized children experience pain that is often inadequately assessed and undertreated. Exposure to undertreated childhood pain is associated with negative short-term and long-term outcomes and can detrimentally affect families, health services, and communities. Adopting electronic medical records (EMRs) in pediatric hospitals is a promising mechanism to transform care. As part of a larger program of research, this study examined the perspectives of pediatric clinical pain experts about how to capitalize on EMR designs to drive optimal family-centered pain care. A qualitative descriptive study design was used and 14 nursing and medical experts from 5 countries (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and Qatar) were interviewed online using Zoom for Healthcare. We applied a reflexive content analysis to the data and constructed 4 broad categories: "capturing the pain story," "working with user-friendly systems," "patient and family engagement and shared decision making," and "augmenting pain knowledge and awareness." These findings outline expert recommendations for EMR designs that facilitate broad biopsychosocial pain assessments and multimodal treatments, and customized functionality that safeguards high-risk practices without overwhelming clinicians. Future research should study the use of patient-controlled and family-controlled interactive bedside technology to and their potential to promote shared decision making and optimize pain care outcomes.

Decreased in-hospital mortality rate following implementation of a comprehensive electronic medical record system

AIM

To evaluate changes in in-hospital mortality rate following implementation of a comprehensive electronic medical record (EMR) system.

METHODS

Before and after study of 355,709 hospital discharges, over an 8-year period, at a paediatric teaching hospital. The major outcome measures were crude number of in-hospital deaths, deaths per 1000 discharges, and standardised mortality ratio.

RESULTS

Primary analysis of data from 2 years before and 2 years after EMR go-live showed a reduction in absolute mortality of 33 deaths, a reduction in the mortality rate of 0.48 per 1000 discharges (95% CI 0.09, 0.88 per 1000): and a relative 22% decrease (95% CI: 4%, 36%, P = 0.02) in deaths per 1000 discharges from 2.20 to 1.72. There was also a reduction in standardised mortality ratio of 47% (95% CI: 18%, 66%, P = 0.004). Post-hoc analysis of mortality rates for an additional 2-year pre-intervention period indicated that these changes in the mortality rate were not part of a pre-existing downward trend. Further analysis of an additional 20-month post-intervention period suggests that the reduced mortality rate has been sustained.

CONCLUSION

We documented evidence of a clinically important decrease in in-hospital mortality rate following the implementation of a modern comprehensive EMR system in an Australian paediatric teaching hospital. The study does not prove a causal relationship, and it is possible that other factors explain some, or all, of this difference, but no changes in the hospital population or other major interventions were identified as alternative explanations for this observed change.

Neonatal BCG vaccination and infections in the first year of life: the MIS BAIR randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination has beneficial off-target effects that may include protecting against non-mycobacterial infectious diseases. We aimed to determine whether neonatal BCG vaccination reduces lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) in infants in the MIS BAIR trial.

METHODS

In this investigator-blinded trial, neonates in Australia were randomised to receive BCG-Denmark vaccination or no BCG at birth. Episodes of LRTI were determined by symptoms reported in parent-completed 3-monthly questionnaires over the first year of life. Data were analysed by intention-to-treat using binary regression. Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01906853).

RESULTS

From August 2013 to September 2016, 1272 neonates were randomised to the BCG vaccination (n=637) or control (n=635) group. The proportion of participants with an episode of LRTI in the first year of life among BCG-vaccinated infants was 54.8% compared to 58.0% in the control group, resulting in a risk difference of -3.2 (95% CI -9.0 to 2.6) after multiple imputation. There was no interaction observed between the primary outcome and sex, maternal BCG or the other pre-specified effect modifiers.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the findings of this trial, there is insufficient evidence to support the use of neonatal BCG vaccination to prevent LRTI in the first year of life in high-income settings.

A digital approach in the rapid response to COVID-19 - Experience of a paediatric institution

INTRODUCTION

COVID-19 has radically changed the delivery of healthcare in Australia. Central to a tertiary paediatric institution's (The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne (RCH) response was a digital health approach comprising a broad suite of informatics and technology solutions including optimising a fully integrated electronic medical record (EMR).

METHODS

This comprehensive approach spanned all patient care areas and encompassed a broad range of hospital operations. They included patient triage, registration, COVID-19 screening clinic operations, electronic ordering, prescribing and documentation, telehealth, reporting and analytics and research.

DISCUSSION

This paper outlines key aspects of our COVID-19 digital health strategy, highlighting the rapid transition to telehealth and the development of a remote "virtual telehealth" strategy for clinicians which proved popular and allowed true "working from home".

CONCLUSION

COVID-19 has inadvertently focussed the spotlight on the utility of digital health for clinical care. The speed and uptake of digital health within this pandemic has been remarkable and unprecedented in both an Australian and global setting. Whilst many of these changes have been beneficial, some may have been rushed or forced with minimal consideration of ongoing governance. Key stakeholders and enablers should be identified for post-pandemic consideration in future digital health implementation and adoption strategies.

Electronic Task Management System: A Pediatric Institution's Experience

BACKGROUND

Electronic medical task management systems (ETMs) have been adopted in health care institutions to improve health care provider communication. ETMs allow for the requesting and resolution of nonurgent tasks between clinicians of all craft groups. Visibility, ability to provide close-loop feedback, and a digital trail of all decisions and responsible clinicians are key features of ETMs. An embedded ETM within an integrated electronic health record (EHR) was introduced to the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne on April 30, 2016. The ETM is used hospital-wide for nonurgent tasks 24 hours a day. It facilitates communication of nonurgent tasks between clinical staff, with an associated designated timeframe in which the task needs to be completed (2, 4, and 8 hours).

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to examine the usage of the ETM at our institution since its inception.

METHODS

ETM usage data from the first 3 years of use (April 2016 to April 2019) were extracted from the EHR. Data collected included age of patient, date and time of task request, ward, unit, type of task, urgency of task, requestor role, and time to completion.

RESULTS

A total of 136,481 tasks were placed via the ETM in the study period. There were approximately 125 tasks placed each day (24-hour period). The most common time of task placement was around 6:00 p.m. Task placement peaked at approximately 8 a.m., 2 p.m., and 9 p.m.-consistent with nursing shift change times. In total, 63.16% of tasks were placed outside business hours, indicating predominant usage for after-hours task communication. The ETM was most highly utilized by surgical units. The majority of tasks were ordered by nurses for medical staff to complete (97.01%). A significant proportion (98.79%) of tasks was marked as complete on the ETM, indicating closed-loop feedback after tasks were requested.

CONCLUSION

An ETM function embedded in our EHR has been highly utilized in our institution since its introduction. It has multiple benefits for the clinician in the form of efficiencies in workflow and improvement in communication and also workflow management. By allowing collection, tracking, audit, and prioritization of tasks, it also provides a stream of actionable data for quality-improvement activities.

Action plans into action - An electronic action plan generation tool at a paediatric centre

BACKGROUND

Individualised Action Plans (APs) are a key management tool for paediatric asthma, allergy, anaphylaxis and eczema. They provide salient care instructions for patients and caregivers and are thought to improve disease outcomes, albeit with minimal supporting evidence. Whilst the provision of an AP has become a widely measured healthcare quality marker, the content of the plans provided has been relatively neglected. The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne (RCH) implemented an AP generation tool integrated within its Electronic Medical Record (EMR) in 2017. This case study aims to exhibit the potential benefits of a hospital-wide integrated AP tool, assess its uptake and usage at our institution and demonstrate quality and user interface issues detected through audit of APs provided.

METHODS

A retrospective observational analysis of all APs created within the RCH EMR for patients aged 0-18 years between January 1 and December 31, 2018 was conducted. For each AP, automatically populated and clinician entered fields were extracted and analysed.

RESULTS

2637 APs were completed during the study period. The most used AP was for asthma. Omission rates of critical information were low but could be improved. Depending on clinical condition, there was variation in both the location of completion (ED vs clinic/hospital visit) and role of clinician completing the AP (consultant vs junior medical staff).

CONCLUSION

There was considerable uptake of an EMR-integrated AP tool across our institution. An electronic AP allowed for qualitative evaluation of usage and audit of AP content and will guide further system and user interface improvements to improve AP quality.

Bronchiolitis at a specialist paediatric centre: The electronic medical record helps to evaluate low-value care

AIM

Low-value care (LVC) is common. We aimed, using infants presenting to a major tertiary paediatric hospital with bronchiolitis between April 2016 and July 2018, to: (i) assess rates of chest X-ray (CXR) and medication use; (ii) identify associated factors; and (iii) measure the harm of not performing these practices.

METHODS

We extracted data from the electronic medical record for all children aged 1-12 months given a diagnosis of bronchiolitis in the emergency department. Factors potentially associated with LVC practices were extracted, including patient demographics, ordering physician characteristics, order indication, medications prescribed and admission ward. To assess for harm, a radiologist, blinded to CXR indication, reviewed all CXRs ordered over the winter of 2017 for infants with bronchiolitis.

RESULTS

A CXR was ordered for 439 (11.2%) infants, most commonly to rule out consolidation and collapse (65%). CXRs were more likely to be ordered for admitted infants (40.9% admitted to the general medical ward), and 62% were ordered by emergency department staff. Salbutamol was prescribed for 9.3% (n = 199). Amongst those who had a CXR, 28% were prescribed an antibiotic compared to 2.1% for those who did not. In an audit of 98 CXRs ordered over the winter of 2017, there were no CXR findings that meaningfully affected patient outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Using electronic medical record data, we found that CXR and medication use in bronchiolitis were higher than expected given our hospital guideline advice. Future research needs to understand why and develop interventions to reduce LVC.

Biological sex influences antibody responses to routine vaccinations in the first year of life

AIM

We investigated the effect of early-life factors, namely sex, delivery mode, feeding method and antibiotic exposure, on antibody responses to routine vaccinations administered during the first year of life.

METHODS

One and seven months after the primary course of routine vaccines and 1 month after routine vaccines at 12 months of age, antibodies against 26 vaccine antigens were measured in 398 healthy infants. The geometric mean concentration (GMC) of antibodies (adjusted for effect modifiers with multiple linear regression) and the seroprotection rate for each vaccine were compared for each early-life factor.

RESULTS

Sex had an influence on GMCs. Antibody concentrations were significantly lower at 7 months of age in females for tetanus and filamentous haemagglutinin and at 13 months of age for pertactin. In contrast, at 13 months of age, antibody concentrations were significantly higher in females for polio type 3, pneumococcal serotype 6A and measles. Sex did not have an influence on seroprotection rates. Delivery mode, feeding method and antibiotic exposure did not exert a substantial influence on vaccine antibody concentrations.

CONCLUSION

There is a difference between males and females in the humoral response to routine vaccinations in the first year of life.

Study protocol for the Melbourne Infant Study: BCG for Allergy and Infection Reduction (MIS BAIR), a randomised controlled trial to determine the non-specific effects of neonatal BCG vaccination in a low-mortality setting

INTRODUCTION

BCG vaccination reduces all-cause infant mortality in high-mortality settings by more than can be attributed to protection against tuberculosis. This is proposed to result from non-specific protection against non-vaccine targeted ('off-target') infections. There is also evidence that BCG protects against allergic diseases.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

The Melbourne Infant Study: BCG for Allergy and Infection Reduction is a phase III multicentre, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial. A total of 1438 healthy neonates will be randomised to receive either BCG vaccination or no BCG vaccination in the first 10 days of life. Measures of allergy, eczema, infection and asthma will be obtained from parent-completed questionnaires 3 monthly in the first year and 6 monthly from 1 to 5 years of age, and clinical assessments at 1 and 5 years of age. Biological samples will also be collected for future immunological studies.

ANALYSIS PRIMARY OUTCOME

The proportion of participants with measures of allergy and infection (atopic sensitisation, eczema, lower respiratory tract infection) at 1 and 5 years of age, and asthma at 5 years of age.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

(1) the proportion of participants with additional measures of allergy, eczema, asthma and infections; (2) medication use for eczema and asthma; (3) the severity and age of onset of eczema and asthma; (4) the number of episodes of infection; (5) hospitalisations for infections and (6) laboratory measures of immune responses.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This trial has ethical and governance approval from Mercy Health Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC, No. R12-28) and Royal Children's Hospital HREC (No. 33025) with additional governance approval from Barwon Health and St John of God, Geelong, Victoria. Results of this trial will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at scientific conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT01906853.

An Electronic Medical Record in Pediatric Medical Education: Survey of Medical Students' Expectations and Experiences

OBJECTIVE

This study sought to quantitatively characterize medical students' expectations and experiences of an electronic health record (EHR) system in a hospital setting, and to examine perceived and actual impacts on learning.

METHODS

Medical students from July to December 2016 at a tertiary pediatric institution completed pre- and postrotation surveys evaluating their expectations and experience of using an EHR during a pediatric medicine rotation. Survey data included past technology experience, EHR accessibility, use of learning resources, and effect on learning outcomes and patient-clinician communication.

RESULTS

Students generally reported high computer self-efficacy (4.16 ± 0.752, mean ± standard deviation), were comfortable with learning new software (4.08 ± 0.771), and expected the EHR to enhance their overall learning (4.074 ± 0.722). Students anticipated the EHR to be easy to learn, use, and operate, which was consistent with their experience (pre 3.86 vs. post 3.90, p = 0.56). Students did not expect nor experience that the EHR reduced their interaction, visual contact, or ability to build rapport with patients. The EHR did not meet expectations to facilitate learning around medication prescribing, placing orders, and utilizing online resources. Students found that the EHR marginally improved feedback surrounding clinical contributions to patient care from clinicians, although not to the expected levels (pre 3.50 vs. post 3.17, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Medical students readily engaged with the EHR, recognized several advantages in clinical practice, and did not consider their ability to interact with patients was impaired. There was widespread consensus that the EHR enhanced their learning and clinician's feedback, but not to the degree they had expected.

Integrated Electronic Discharge Summaries-Experience of a Tertiary Pediatric Institution

OBJECTIVE

Succinct and timely discharge summaries (DSs) facilitate ongoing care for patients discharged from acute care settings. Many institutions have introduced electronic DS (eDS) templates to improve quality and timeliness of clinical correspondence. However, significant intrahospital and intraunit variability and application exists. A review of the literature and guidelines revealed 13 key elements that should be included in a best practice DS. This was compared against our pediatric institution's eDS template-housed within an integrated electronic medical record (EMR) and used across most inpatient hospital units.

METHODS

Uptake and adherence to the suggested key elements was measured by comparing all DSs for long stay inpatients (> 21-day admission) during the first year of the EMR eDS template's usage (May 2016-April 2017).

RESULTS

A total of 472 DSs were evaluated. Six of 13 key elements were completed in > 98.0% of DSs. Conversely, only < 5.0% included allergies or adverse reaction data, and < 11.0% included ceased medications or pending laboratory results. Inclusion of procedure information and pending laboratory results significantly improved with time (p = 0.05 and p < 0.04, respectively), likely as doctors became more familiar with EMR and autopopulation functions. Inclusion of "discharge diagnosis" differed significantly between medical (n = 406/472; 99.0%) and surgical (n = 32/472; 51.6%) DSs.

CONCLUSION

Uptake and adherence to an EMR eDS template designed to meet best practice guidelines in a pediatric institution was strong, although significant improvements in specific data elements are needed. Strategies can include a modification of existing eDS templates and junior medical staff education around best practice.

Medication use in infants admitted with bronchiolitis

BACKGROUND

There are no medications known that improve the outcome of infants with bronchiolitis. Studies have shown the management of bronchiolitis to be varied.

OBJECTIVES

To describe medication use at the seven study hospitals from a recent multi-centre randomised controlled trial on hydration in bronchiolitis (comparative rehydration in bronchiolitis [CRIB]).

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of extant data of infants between 2 months (corrected for prematurity) and 12 months of age admitted with bronchiolitis identified through the CRIB trial. CRIB study records, medical records, pathology and radiology databases were used to collect data using a standardised form and entered in a single site database. Medications investigated included salbutamol, adrenaline, steroids, ipratropium bromide, normal saline, hypertonic saline, steroids and antibiotics.

RESULTS

There were 3456 infants available for analysis, of which 42.0% received at least one medication during hospitalisation. Medication use varied by site between 27.0 and 48.7%. The most frequently used medication was salbutamol (25.5%). Medication use in general, and salbutamol use in particular, increased by 8.2 and 9.3%, respectively, per month after 4 months of age; from 22.9 and 3.6% at 4 months to 81.4 and 68.8% at 11 months. In infants admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) compared with those not admitted to ICU 81.6 and 39.5%, respectively, received medication at one point during the hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Medication was used for infants with bronchiolitis frequently and variably in Australia and New Zealand. Medication use increased with age. Better strategies for translating evidence into practice are needed.

Influence of weather on incidence of bronchiolitis in Australia and New Zealand

AIM

We aimed to examine the impact of weather on hospital admissions with bronchiolitis in Australia and New Zealand.

METHODS

We collected data for inpatient admissions of infants aged 2-12 months to seven hospitals in four cities in Australia and New Zealand from 2009 until 2011. Correlation of hospital admissions with minimum daily temperature, wind speed, relative humidity and rainfall was examined using linear, Poisson and negative binomial regression analyses as well as general estimated equation models. To account for possible lag between exposure to weather and admission to hospital, analyses were conducted for time lags of 0-4 weeks.

RESULTS

During the study period, 3876 patients were admitted to the study hospitals. Hospital admissions showed strong seasonality with peaks in wintertime, onset in autumn and offset in spring. The onset of peak incidence was preceded by a drop in temperature. Minimum temperature was inversely correlated with hospital admissions, whereas wind speed was directly correlated. These correlations were sustained for time lags of up to 4 weeks. Standardised correlation coefficients ranged from -0.14 to -0.54 for minimum temperature and from 0.18 to 0.39 for wind speed. Relative humidity and rainfall showed no correlation with hospital admissions in our study.

CONCLUSION

A decrease in temperature and increasing wind speed are associated with increasing incidence of bronchiolitis hospital admissions in Australia and New Zealand.

Intensive care unit admissions and ventilation support in infants with bronchiolitis

OBJECTIVES

To describe the rate of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, type of ventilation support provided and risk factors for ICU admission in infants with bronchiolitis.

DESIGN

Retrospective review of hospital records and Australia and New Zealand Paediatric Intensive Care (ANZPIC) registry data for infants 2-12 months old admitted with bronchiolitis.

SETTING

Seven Australian and New Zealand hospitals. These infants were prospectively identified through the comparative rehydration in bronchiolitis (CRIB) study between 2009 and 2011.

RESULTS

Of 3884 infants identified, 3589 charts were available for analysis. Of 204 (5.7%) infants with bronchiolitis admitted to ICU, 162 (79.4%) received ventilation support. Of those 133 (82.1%) received non-invasive ventilation (high flow nasal cannula [HFNC] or continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP]) 7 (4.3%) received invasive ventilation alone and 21 (13.6%) received a combination of ventilation modes. Infants with comorbidities such as chronic lung disease (OR 1.6 [95% CI 1.0-2.6]), congenital heart disease (OR 2.3 [1.5-3.5]), neurological disease (OR 2.2 [1.2-4.1]) or prematurity (OR 1.5 [1.0-2.1]), and infants 2-6 months of age (OR 1.5 [1.1-2.0]) were more likely to be admitted to ICU. Respiratory syncitial virus positivity did not increase the likelihood of being admitted to ICU (OR 1.1 [95% CI 0.8-1.4]). HFNC use changed from 13/53 (24.5% [95% CI 13.7-38.3]) patient episodes in 2009 to 39/91 (42.9% [95% CI 32.5-53.7]) patient episodes in 2011.

CONCLUSION

Admission to ICU is an uncommon occurrence in infants admitted with bronchiolitis, but more common in infants with comorbidities and prematurity. The majority are managed with non-invasive ventilation, with increasing use of HFNC.

Preparing for genomic medicine: a real world demonstration of health system change

Organisations and governments seeking to implement genomics into clinical practice face numerous challenges across multiple, diverse aspects of the health care system. It is not sufficient to tackle any one aspect in isolation: to create a system that supports genomic medicine, they must be addressed simultaneously. The growing body of global knowledge can guide decision-making, but each jurisdiction or organisation needs a model for genomic (or personalised) medicine that is tailored to its unique context, its priorities and the funds available. Poor decisions could greatly reduce the benefits that could potentially arise from genomic medicine. Demonstration projects enable models to be tested, providing valuable evidence and experience for subsequent implementation. Here, we present the Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance demonstration project as an exemplar of a collaborative, holistic approach to phased implementation of genomics across multiple autonomous institutions. The approach and lessons learned may assist others in determining how best to integrate genomics into their healthcare system.

Economic evaluation of nasogastric versus intravenous hydration in infants with bronchiolitis

OBJECTIVE

Bronchiolitis is the most common lower respiratory tract infection in infants and the leading cause of hospitalisation. We aimed to assess whether intravenous hydration (IVH) was more cost-effective than nasogastric hydration (NGH) as a planned secondary economic analysis of a randomised trial involving 759 infants (aged 2-12 months) admitted to hospital with a clinical diagnosis of bronchiolitis and requiring non-oral hydration. No Australian cost data exist to aid clinicians in decision-making around interventions in bronchiolitis.

METHODS

Cost data collections included hospital and intervention-specific costs. The economic analysis was reduced to a cost-minimisation study, focusing on intervention-specific costs of IVH versus NGH, as length of stay was equal between groups. All analyses are reported as intention to treat.

RESULTS

Intervention costs were greater for IVH than NGH ($113 vs $74; cost difference of $39 per child). The intervention-specific cost advantage to NGH was robust to inter-site variation in unit prices and treatment activity.

CONCLUSION

Intervention-specific costs account for <10% of total costs of bronchiolitis admissions, with NGH having a small cost saving across all sites.

Overactive Pattern Separation Memory Associated with Negative Emotionality in Adults Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Bowler et al. (Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders 44(9):2355-2362. doi:10.1007/s10803-014-2105-y, 2014) have suggested that a specific memory impairment in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) arises from hippocampal failure to consolidate multiple related pieces of information. Twenty-four adults diagnosed with ASD and matched healthy controls completed a pattern separation memory task that is known to critically depend on hippocampal involvement. They additionally completed questionnaires regarding anxiety, depression, and behavioral motivation. Specific deficits in pattern separation were significantly correlated with negative emotionality; the best predictor of memory deficit was from a measure of achievement motivation that has also been associated with hyperactivity and impulsivity. In the context of impaired emotion regulation in ASD, there is a need for integrated cognitive, affective, and neural systems approaches to build targeted interventions.

140 mmol/L of sodium versus 77 mmol/L of sodium in maintenance intravenous fluid therapy for children in hospital (PIMS): a randomised controlled double-blind trial

BACKGROUND

Use of hypotonic intravenous fluid to maintain hydration in children in hospital has been associated with hyponatraemia, leading to neurological morbidity and mortality. We aimed to assess whether use of fluid solutions with a higher sodium concentration reduced the risk of hyponatraemia compared with use of hypotonic solutions.

METHODS

We did a randomised controlled double-blind trial of children admitted to The Royal Children's Hospital (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) who needed intravenous maintenance hydration for 6 h or longer. With an online randomisation system that used unequal block sizes, we randomly assigned patients (1:1) to receive either isotonic intravenous fluid containing 140 mmol/L of sodium (Na140) or hypotonic fluid containing 77 mmol/L of sodium (Na77) for 72 h or until their intravenous fluid rate decreased to lower than 50% of the standard maintenance rate. We stratified assignment by baseline sodium concentrations. Study investigators, treating clinicians, nurses, and patients were masked to treatment assignment. The primary outcome was occurrence of hyponatraemia (serum sodium concentration <135 mmol/L with a decrease of at least 3 mmol/L from baseline) during the treatment period, analysed by intention to treat. The trial was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number ACTRN1260900924257.

FINDINGS

Between Feb 2, 2010, and Jan 29, 2013, we randomly assigned 690 patients. Of these patients, primary outcome data were available for 319 who received Na140 and 322 who received Na77. Fewer patients given Na140 than those given Na77 developed hyponatraemia (12 patients [4%] vs 35 [11%]; odds ratio [OR] 0·31, 95% CI 0·16-0·61; p=0·001). No clinically apparent cerebral oedema occurred in either group. Eight patients in the Na140 group (two potentially related to intravenous fluid) and four in the Na77 group (none related to intravenous fluid) developed serious adverse events during the treatment period. One patient in the Na140 had seizures during the treatment period compared with seven who received Na77.

INTERPRETATION

Use of isotonic intravenous fluid with a sodium concentration of 140 mmol/L had a lower risk of hyponatraemia without an increase in adverse effects than did fluid containing 77 mmol/L of sodium. An isotonic fluid should be used as intravenous fluid for maintenance hydration in children.

FUNDING

National Health and Medical Research Council, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.

Fifteen-minute consultation: The infant with frequent infections

Children with frequent or recurrent infections commonly present to medical practitioners in both primary and secondary care. Here we provide a structured approach to the consultation of the infant under 2 years of age with frequent infections. The key is a focused history and examination to elicit red flags to an underlying diagnosis, while at the same time seeking benign explanations for the frequency of infections, which account for the majority of children, thereby avoiding unnecessary investigations.

Drug approval processes in Australian Paediatric Hospitals

OBJECTIVE

To describe and evaluate the decision-making processes for drug approval in Australian paediatric hospitals.

DESIGN

Multicentre descriptive study involving face-to-face interviews of drug and therapeutics committee chairs and secretaries, review of committee documents and drug submissions for all Australian paediatric hospital drug and therapeutics committees over a 1-year period.

SETTING

All eight paediatric hospitals in Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

Eight committee chairs and seven secretaries or delegates.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Total drug expenditure, number of formulary submissions, individual-patient use approvals and approval rates for each hospital from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007, stratified by therapeutic class. Qualitative description of the approval processes.

RESULTS

Total drug expenditure varied from $A1.7 million (US$1.5 million) to $A11.1 million (US$9.8 million) per hospital. The number of formulary submissions also varied, from 7 to 21, but approval rate was high (76%-100%) and not significantly different among hospitals (p=0.17). Several committees approved identical submissions for five drugs. The number of individual-patient use applications varied considerably, ranging from 10 to 456 per hospital. Where estimable, individual-patient use approval was 76%-100% and variable (p=0.03). Quality of evidence relating to safety and efficacy of drugs being considered was regarded as the most important factors influencing decision making, with the cost less important. Most committees had poor infrastructural support for approval processes. No committee formally included a pharmaco-economic evaluation.

CONCLUSIONS

Most drug submissions in tertiary paediatric hospitals are approved; however, workload, drug expenditure and individual-patient use schemes vary considerably. Duplication of effort occurs, and few committees are resourced sufficiently given their terms of reference.

Anxiety is more common in children with asthma

OBJECTIVE

There are a variety of reasons why there may be an association between asthma and anxiety in children. Research into the relation between asthma and anxiety has been limited by the sole use of parent-reported or self-reported asthma symptoms to define asthma status. The objective of this study was to determine if children with physician-defined asthma are more likely to suffer anxiety than children without asthma.

DESIGN

A population-based, cross-sectional assessment, of self-reported anxiety symptoms.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Children aged 5-13 years from Barwon region of Victoria, Australia. Asthma status was determined by review with a paediatrician. Controls were a sample of children without asthma symptoms (matched for age, gender and school).

OUTCOME MEASURE

The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) written questionnaire. The authors compared the mean SCAS score, and the proportion of children with an SCAS score in the clinical range, between the groups.

RESULTS

Questionnaires were issued to 205 children with asthma (158 returned, response rate 77%), and 410 controls (319 returned, response rate 78%). The SCAS scores were higher in asthmatics than controls (p<0.001); and were more likely to be in the clinical range (OR=2.5, 95% CI 1.1 to 5.8, p=0.036). There was no evidence that these associations could be explained by known confounding factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with asthma are substantially more likely to suffer anxiety than children without asthma. Future studies are required to determine the sequence of events that leads to this comorbidity, and to test strategies to prevent and treat anxiety among children with asthma.

A prospective randomised trial comparing nasogastric with intravenous hydration in children with bronchiolitis (protocol): the comparative rehydration in bronchiolitis study (CRIB)

BACKGROUND

Bronchiolitis is the most common reason for admission of infants to hospital in developed countries. Fluid replacement therapy is required in about 30% of children admitted with bronchiolitis. There are currently two techniques of fluid replacement therapy that are used with the same frequency-intravenous (IV) or nasogastric (NG).The evidence to determine the optimum route of hydration therapy for infants with bronchiolitis is inadequate. This randomised trial will be the first to provide good quality evidence of whether nasogastric rehydration (NGR) offers benefits over intravenous rehydration (IVR) using the clinically relevant continuous outcome measure of duration of hospital admission.

METHODS/DESIGN

A prospective randomised multi-centre trial in Australia and New Zealand where children between 2 and 12 months of age with bronchiolitis, needing non oral fluid replacement, are randomised to receive either intravenous (IV) or nasogastric (NG) rehydration.750 patients admitted to participating hospitals will be recruited, and will be followed daily during the admission and by telephone 1 week after discharge. Patients with chronic respiratory, cardiac, or neurological disease; choanal atresia; needing IV fluid resuscitation; needing an IV for other reasons, and those requiring CPAP or ventilation are excluded.The primary endpoint is duration of hospital admission. Secondary outcomes are complications, need for ICU admission, parental satisfaction, and an economic evaluation. Results will be analysed using t-test for continuous data, and chi squared for categorical data. Non parametric data will be log transformed.

DISCUSSION

This trial will define the role of NGR and IVR in bronchiolitis

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The trial is registered with the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry--ACTRN12605000033640.

Parent initiated prednisolone for acute asthma in children of school age: randomised controlled crossover trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy of a short course of parent initiated oral prednisolone for acute asthma in children of school age.

DESIGN

Double blind, randomised, placebo controlled, crossover trial in which episodes of asthma, rather than participants, were randomised to treatment.

SETTING

The Barwon region of Victoria, Australia.

PARTICIPANTS

Children aged 5-12 years with a history of recurrent episodes of acute asthma.

INTERVENTION

A short course of parent initiated treatment with prednisolone (1 mg/kg a day) or placebo.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure was the mean daytime symptom score over seven days. Secondary outcome measures were mean night time symptom score over seven days, use of health resources, and school absenteeism.

RESULTS

230 children were enrolled in the study. Over a three year period, 131 (57%) of the participants contributed a total of 308 episodes of asthma that required parent initiated treatment: 155 episodes were treated with parent initiated prednisolone and 153 with placebo. The mean daytime symptom score was 15% lower in episodes treated with prednisolone than in those treated with placebo (geometric mean ratio 0.85, 95% CI 0.74 to 0.98; P=0.023). Treatment with prednisolone was also associated with a 16% reduction in the night time symptom score (geometric mean ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.00; P=0.050), a reduced risk of health resource use (odds ratio 0.54, 95% CI 0.34 to 0.86; P=0.010), and reduced school absenteeism (mean difference -0.4 days, 95% CI -0.8 to 0.0 days; P=0.045).

CONCLUSION

A short course of oral prednisolone initiated by parents when their child experiences an episode of acute asthma may reduce asthma symptoms, health resource use, and school absenteeism. However, the modest benefits of this strategy must be balanced against potential side effects of repeated short courses of an oral corticosteroid.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ISRCTN 26232583.

Radiological investigations following urinary tract infection: changes in Australian practice

OBJECTIVE

To examine practice changes in the conduct of radiological investigations in Australia following urinary tract infection (UTI).

DESIGN

Observational study using data from the national Medicare database over the 15-year period July 1993 to June 2008 for four investigations: renal ultrasound (renal US), micturating cystourethrography (MCU), intravenous pyelography (IVP) and nuclear medicine isotope scanning of the renal tract (NM). Rates per 100,000 children in the age groups 0-4 years and 5-14 years were calculated for each test.

SETTING

Australian medical practice, including private and public medical settings.

RESULTS

The rates of performance of renal US remained fairly constant throughout the study period in both age groups, while those for MCU, IVP and NM showed a strong falling trend over time for each test in both age groups. For the more invasive tests (MCU, IVP and NM) the total number performed per annum fell from 11,169 (costing 2,032,621 dollars) to 3361 (costing 689,742 dollars) in the last 10 years.

CONCLUSION

There have been very marked practice changes over the last 10-15 years. This trend followed the publication of scientific evidence which has raised doubts about the benefit of performing these investigations.

The salivagram in severe cerebral palsy and able-bodied adults

AIMS

To test the hypothesis that the salivagram is frequently positive in those at high risk of aspiration but negative in individuals at low risk of aspiration lung disease.

METHODS

We studied 63 individuals with spastic quadriparetic cerebral palsy (CP), aged 14 months to 16 years (31 females and 32 males), and 20 able-bodied young adult volunteers, aged 19-29 years (17 female and three males) using the salivagram. Twenty millilitres of 99mTc-sulphur colloid in saline was instilled into the pharynx of each subject over 1 h. Aspiration was characterised by the appearance of activity in either lung field.

RESULTS

Aspiration was demonstrated by salivagram in 56% of children with CP (95% confidence interval 43% to 68%), compared to 0% of young adults (97.5% one-sided confidence interval 0% to 17%). The difference in frequency is highly significant (P < 0.0006).

CONCLUSIONS

The salivagram is frequently positive in those at high risk of aspiration, but frequently negative in those at low risk of aspiration. It may be a useful investigation for the demonstration of aspiration.

Pelvic organ prolapse: a review of the current literature

Pelvic organ prolapse has afflicted women since the beginning of mankind. Even though we have been faced with this problem for so many centuries, we still have not found a way to overcome gravity and prevent prolapse. We continue to make efforts to manage prolapse, modifying our techniques based on burgeoning research. This knowledge helps us to avoid repetitive complications from surgery and to improve techniques to prevent recurrent prolapse. In addition, we are constantly adapting our methods depending on available technology. With an aging population, the demand for physicians and surgeons trained in management of pelvic organ prolapse will increase. The rapidly evolving literature on pelvic organ prolapse makes a comprehensive review difficult. However, based on the current literature, randomized controlled trials are needed to compare new prolapse repair techniques to traditional techniques. Physicians specializing in surgical management of pelvic organ prolapse will need to work together to complete quality clinical trials. The primary focus of this review will be on the recent research concerning the epidemiology, etiology, presenting symptoms, and diagnosis of pelvic organ prolapse. We will also discuss the different types of prolapse by compartments of the vagina in which they occur and how each of these types of prolapse can be managed. Finally, we will review recent literature evaluating surgical repairs using transvaginal mesh kits.

Asthma among school children in the Barwon region of Victoria

OBJECTIVES

To determine (i) the relationship between asthma management and socioeconomic status; (ii) whether recent estimates from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) conducted in Melbourne apply to a broader cross-section of Victorian children; and (iii) age-related trends in asthma prevalence.

DESIGN

A questionnaire survey, based on the ISAAC protocol.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

Subjects were children aged 4-13 years from a random sample of primary schools in the Barwon region of Victoria. The survey was conducted between March and September 2005.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Parent-reported wheeze and wheeze-related use of health resources during the preceding 12 months.

RESULTS

Questionnaires were returned by 7813/9258 students (84%). Lower socioeconomic status was associated with increased frequency of regular asthma reviews (P < 0.01 for trend), but not of emergency department visits (P = 0.19). The prevalence of wheeze among 6- and 7-year-old children in the Barwon region was similar to that in Melbourne children (20.2% v 20.0%, respectively). There was an age-related increase in the proportion of children with > or = 12 episodes of wheeze (P = 0.01); but an age-related decrease in emergency department visits (P = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Disadvantaged children have good access to regular asthma reviews and are no more likely to attend an emergency department with an episode of acute wheeze. Asthma prevalence in 6- and 7-year-old children in the Barwon region is similar to that in Melbourne. The prevalence of children with very frequent wheeze increases with age, but their use of health resources decreases.

Parent-initiated oral corticosteroid therapy for acute asthma: a survey of current practice

AIM

To determine (i) the proportion of doctors who recommend parent-initiated oral corticosteroids (PIOCS) for acute asthma; and (ii) the proportion of parents who have received this advice.

METHODS

(i) An internet-based survey of doctors involved in the care of children with asthma; and (ii) a questionnaire-based survey of parents of children aged 4-13 years who were identified from a random sample of primary schools within the Barwon region of Victoria.

RESULTS

Eight-five per cent (95% confidence interval 80.0-89.1%) of responding doctors reported recommending PIOCS to parents of children with asthma. However, only 16.5% (95% confidence interval 14.2-18.7%) of parents of children with recent asthma symptoms report that they have received such advice.

CONCLUSION

The majority of responding doctors involved in the care of children with asthma report recommending PIOCS to parents. By contrast, a minority of parents of children with asthma report that they have received such advice.

Parent-initiated oral corticosteroid therapy for intermittent wheezing illnesses in children: systematic review

AIM

Intermittent wheezing illnesses, which include viral-associated wheeze and asthma, are among the most common reasons for children to present urgently to a doctor. The objectives of this systematic review were to assess the benefits and harmful effects of parent-initiated oral corticosteroids (PIOCS) in the management of intermittent wheezing illness in children.

METHODS

The Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register, The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, Web of Science and Dissertation Abstracts were searched. Only randomised clinical trials studying patients aged between 1 and 18 years, with an intermittent wheezing illness were included.

RESULTS

From 572 original citations, a total of two randomised clinical trials (303 randomised participants) were included. The quality of the included trials was high; however, marked clinical heterogeneity precluded a meta-analysis. The two trials did not find evidence that PIOCS are associated with a benefit in terms of hospital admissions, unscheduled medical reviews, symptoms scores, or bronchodilator use.

CONCLUSION

Limited current evidence is available and it is inconclusive regarding the benefit from PIOCS therapy in the treatment of intermittent wheezing illnesses in children. Oral corticosteroids have a clearly defined role in the management of acute asthma in the hospital setting. Therefore, it is reasonable for clinicians to recommend PIOCS when (i) the child has a history of severe acute asthma; and (ii) the parents are able to assess asthma status. However, widespread use of PIOCS cannot be recommended until the benefits and harms can be clarified further.

Parent-initiated oral corticosteroid therapy for intermittent wheezing illnesses in children

BACKGROUND

Intermittent wheezing illnesses, which include viral associated wheeze and asthma, are amongst the most common reasons for children to present urgently to a doctor. Whether parents should commence oral corticosteroids (OCS) for an episode of acute wheeze in their child without waiting for a medical review is an important question, as the potential benefits of early oral corticosteroid intervention have to be weighed against the potential adverse effects of treatment.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives were to assess the benefits and harmful effects of parent-initiated OCS, in the management of intermittent wheezing illnesses in children, based on the results of randomised clinical trials.

SEARCH STRATEGY

The Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register, The Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL), MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, Web of Science and Dissertation Abstracts were combined (all searched November 2005). Manufacturers and researchers in the field were also contacted.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Only randomised clinical trials studying patients aged between one and eighteen years old, with an intermittent wheezing illness (asthma, viral wheeze, preschool viral wheeze) were included. Interventions encompassed OCS at any dose or duration versus placebo or other drug combination. The trials could be unpublished or published and no language limitations were applied.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two reviewers independently selected trials for inclusion, assessed trial quality and extracted the data. The statistical package (RevMan 4.2) provided by the Cochrane Collaboration was used.

MAIN RESULTS

From 572 original citations, a total of 2 randomised clinical trials (303 randomised participants) were included. The quality of the included trials was high; however, marked clinical heterogeneity precluded a meta-analysis. The two trials did not find evidence that parent-initiated OCS are associated with a benefit in terms of hospital admissions, unscheduled medical reviews, symptoms scores, bronchodilator use, parent and patient impressions, physician assessment, or days lost from work or school. Adverse outcomes were inadequately documented.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Limited current evidence is available and it is inconclusive regarding the benefit from parent-initiated OCS in the treatment of intermittent wheezing illnesses in children. Widespread use of this strategy cannot be recommended until the benefits and harms can be clarified further.

ER+ PR- breast cancer defines a unique subtype of breast cancer that is driven by growth factor signaling and may be more likely to respond to EGFR targeted therapies

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Background: Hormonal based therapy has long been the mainstay for treatment of ER+ breast cancer. ER+ PR- disease is now known to exhibit different clinical behavior compared to ER+PR+ disease. Recent data indicate that ER+PR- disease is characterized by a lower response rate to estrogen deprivation, has a worse prognosis compared to ER+ PR+ disease, and may be dependent on other signaling pathways. To evaluate the role of the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor gefitnib in the treatment of breast cancer, we conducted a pre-surgical study in women with operable disease. Methods: Frozen core biopsies were obtained at baseline. Patients then received a short-term exposure to gefitinib (at least 2 weeks) prior to definitive surgery when a frozen tumor specimen was obtained. Tissue integrity and composition was verified by H and E and RNA was isolated for microarray analysis. 59 women were enrolled in the study of which 43 were evaluable for molecular analysis. Baseline microarrays were performed on the initial biopsies to classify the ‘subtype‘ of breast cancer (e.g. basal, luminal, HER2 amplified). To analyze the genetic changes that occur in breast cancer tissue with exposure to gefitinib, a direct comparison of the baseline sample and post-treatment tumor was performed. In addition, ER and PR status were determined by immunohistochemistry and compared to the microarray findings. Changes in Ki67 and a set of cell cycle genes were used to define ‘molecular response” to gefitinib. Of the 43 samples evaluated by microarray, 11 patients were categorized as exhibiting molecular growth inhibition, 10 patients as molecular growth proliferation, and 22 did not have a significant change in Ki67 and the cell cycle gene set to assign a response. When grouped by subtype, ER+PR- and HER2 amplified tumors define a subgroup more likely to show molecular growth inhibition with gefitinib. Conversely, ER+PR+ tumors were more likely to show molecular growth proliferation. Conclusions: These results support the hypothesis that ER+PR- breast cancer is growth factor dependent and constitutes a unique subgroup of ER+ patients which may be more likely to benefit from EGFR inhibition.

[Table: see text]