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Woo MC, Ferrara G, Puerto‐Torres M, Gillipelli SR, Elish P, Muniz‐Talavera H, Gonzalez‐Ruiz A, Armenta M, Barra C, Diaz‐Coronado R, Hernandez C, Juarez S, Loeza JDJ, Mendez A, Montalvo E, Peñafiel E, Pineda E, Graetz DE, Kortz T, Agulnik A. Stages of change: Strategies to promote use of a Pediatric Early Warning System in resource-limited pediatric oncology centers. Cancer Med 2023; 12:15358-15370. [PMID: 37403745 PMCID: PMC10417083 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric Early Warning Systems (PEWS) assist early detection of clinical deterioration in hospitalized children with cancer. Relevant to successful PEWS implementation, the "stages of change" model characterizes stakeholder support for PEWS based on willingness and effort to adopt the new practice. METHODS At five resource-limited pediatric oncology centers in Latin America, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 71 hospital staff involved in PEWS implementation. Purposive sampling was used to select centers requiring variable time to complete PEWS implementation, with low-barrier centers (3-4 months) and high-barrier centers (10-11 months). Interviews were conducted in Spanish, professionally transcribed, and translated into English. Thematic content analysis explored "stage of change" with constant comparative analysis across stakeholder types and study sites. RESULTS Participants identified six interventions (training, incentives, participation, evidence, persuasion, and modeling) and two policies (environmental planning and mandates) as effective strategies used by implementation leaders to promote stakeholder progression through stages of change. Key approaches involved presentation of evidence demonstrating PEWS effectiveness, persuasion and incentives addressing specific stakeholder interests, enthusiastic individuals serving as models for others, and policies enforced by hospital directors facilitating habitual PEWS use. Effective engagement targeted hospital directors during early implementation phases to provide programmatic legitimacy for clinical staff. CONCLUSION This study identifies strategies to promote adoption and maintained use of PEWS, highlighting the importance of tailoring implementation strategies to the motivations of each stakeholder type. These findings can guide efforts to implement PEWS and other evidence-based practices that improve childhood cancer outcomes in resource-limited hospitals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gia Ferrara
- St. Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | | | | | - Paul Elish
- Rollins School of Public HealthEmory UniversityAtlantaGeorgiaUSA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Susana Juarez
- Hospital Central Dr. Ignacio Morones PrietoSan Luis PotosíMexico
| | | | | | | | | | - Estuardo Pineda
- Hospital Nacional de Niños Benjamín BloomSan SalvadorEl Salvador
| | | | - Teresa Kortz
- University of CaliforniaSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Asya Agulnik
- St. Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
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Wiphatphumiprates PP, Graetz DE, Ferrara G, Puerto-Torres M, Gillipelli SR, Elish P, Muniz-Talavera H, Gonzalez-Ruiz A, Armenta M, Barra C, Carpio Z, Hernandez C, Juarez S, de Jesus Loeza J, Mendez A, Montalvo E, Penafiel E, Pineda E, McKay V, Agulnik A. The COVID-19 Pandemic's impact on sustainability and expansion of a Pediatric Early Warning System in resource-limited hospitals. Cancer Med 2023. [PMID: 37022012 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.5876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic impacted healthcare delivery worldwide, including pediatric cancer care, with a disproportionate effect in resource-limited settings. This study evaluates its impact on existing quality improvement (QI) programs. METHODS We conducted 71 semi-structured interviews of key stakeholders at five resource-limited pediatric oncology centers participating in a collaborative to implement Pediatric Early Warning System (PEWS). Interviews were conducted virtually using a structured interview guide, recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. Two coders developed a codebook of a priori and inductive codes and independently coded all transcripts, achieving a kappa of 0.8-0.9. Thematic analysis explored the impact of the pandemic on PEWS. RESULTS All hospitals reported limitations in material resources, reduction in staffing, and impacts on patient care due to the pandemic. However, the impact on PEWS varied across centers. Identified factors that promoted or limited ongoing PEWS use included the availability of material resources needed for PEWS, staff turnover, PEWS training for staff, and the willingness of staff and hospital leaders to prioritize PEWS. Consequently, some hospitals were able to sustain PEWS; others halted or reduced PEWS use to prioritize other work. Similarly, the pandemic delayed plans at all hospitals to expand PEWS to other units. Several participants were hopeful for future expansion of PEWS post-pandemic. CONCLUSION The COVID-19 pandemic created challenges for sustainability and scale of PEWS, an ongoing QI program, in these resource-limited pediatric oncology centers. Several factors mitigated these challenges and promoted ongoing PEWS use. These results can guide strategies to sustain effective QI interventions during future health crises.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dylan E Graetz
- Global Pediatric Medicine at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Tennessee, Memphis, USA
| | - Gia Ferrara
- Global Pediatric Medicine at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Tennessee, Memphis, USA
| | - Maria Puerto-Torres
- Global Pediatric Medicine at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Tennessee, Memphis, USA
| | | | - Paul Elish
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | | | - Miriam Armenta
- Pediatric Oncology, Hospital General de Tijuana, Tijuana, Mexico
| | - Camila Barra
- Pediatric Oncology, Hospital Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna, Santiago, Chile
| | - Zulma Carpio
- Pediatric Oncology, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, Lima, Peru
| | - Cinthia Hernandez
- Pediatric Oncology, Hospital Infantil Teletón de Oncología, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Susana Juarez
- Pediatrics, Hospital Central Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | | | - Alejandra Mendez
- Pediatric Critical Care, Unidad Nacional de Oncología Pediátrica, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Erika Montalvo
- Pediatric Critical Care, Hospital Oncológico Solca Núcleo de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Eulalia Penafiel
- Pediatric Oncology, Instituto del Cáncer SOLCA Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Estuardo Pineda
- Pediatric Oncology, Hospital Nacional de Niños Benjamín Bloom, San Salvador, El Salvador
| | - Virginia McKay
- Bloom School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Asya Agulnik
- Global Pediatric Medicine at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Tennessee, Memphis, USA
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Mirochnick E, Graetz DE, Ferrara G, Puerto-Torres M, Gillipelli SR, Elish P, Muniz-Talavera H, Gonzalez-Ruiz A, Armenta M, Barra C, Diaz-Coronado R, Hernandez C, Juarez S, Loeza JDJ, Mendez A, Montalvo E, Penafiel E, Pineda E, Agulnik A. Multilevel impacts of a pediatric early warning system in resource-limited pediatric oncology hospitals. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1018224. [PMID: 36313665 PMCID: PMC9597682 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1018224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pediatric Early Warning Systems (PEWS) reduce clinical deterioration, improve interdisciplinary communication, and provide cost savings; however, little is known about how these impacts are achieved or related. This study evaluates the multi-level impacts of PEWS in resource-limited pediatric oncology centers. Methods We conducted 71 semi-structured interviews including physicians (45%), nurses (45%), and administrators (10%) from 5 resource-limited pediatric oncology centers in 4 Latin American countries. Interviews were conducted in Spanish, transcribed, and translated into English. A code book was developed using a priori and inductively derived codes. Transcripts were independently coded by 2 coders, achieving a kappa of 0.8-0.9. Thematic content analysis explored perceived impacts of PEWS at the level of the patient, clinician, healthcare team, and institution. Results PEWS improved the quality of attention for patients, reducing morbidity and mortality. Clinicians felt more knowledgeable, confident, and empowered providing patient care, resulting in greater job satisfaction. PEWS affected team dynamics by improving interdisciplinary (ward and intensive care unit) and interprofessional (physicians and nurses) relationships and communication. This ultimately led to institutional culture change with emphasis on patient safety, collaboration with other centers, and receipt of institutional awards. Together, these impacts led to hospital-wide support of ongoing PEWS use. Conclusions In resource-limited hospitals, PEWS use results in multi-level positive impacts on patients, clinicians, teams, and institutions, creating a feedback loop that further supports ongoing PEWS use. These findings can guide advocacy for PEWS to various stakeholders, improve PEWS effectiveness, and inform assessment of other interventions to improve childhood cancer outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Mirochnick
- The Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Dylan E. Graetz
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Gia Ferrara
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Maria Puerto-Torres
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Srinithya R. Gillipelli
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
- School of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Paul Elish
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Hilmarie Muniz-Talavera
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Alejandra Gonzalez-Ruiz
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Miriam Armenta
- Pediatric Oncology, Hospital General de Tijuana, Tijuana, Mexico
| | - Camila Barra
- Pediatric Oncology, Hospital Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Cinthia Hernandez
- Pediatric Oncology, Hospital Infantil Teletón de Oncología, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Susana Juarez
- Pediatrics, Hospital Central Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | | | - Alejandra Mendez
- Pediatric Critical Care, Unidad Nacional de Oncología Pediátrica, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Erika Montalvo
- Pediatric Critical Care, Hospital Oncológico Solca Núcleo de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Eulalia Penafiel
- Pediatric Oncology, Instituto del Cáncer Solca Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Estuardo Pineda
- Pediatric Oncology, Hospital Nacional de Niños Benjamín Bloom, San Salvador, El Salvador
| | - Asya Agulnik
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
- *Correspondence: Asya Agulnik,
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Agulnik A, Ferrara G, Puerto-Torres M, Gillipelli SR, Elish P, Muniz-Talavera H, Gonzalez-Ruiz A, Armenta M, Barra C, Diaz R, Hernandez C, Juárez Tobias S, de Jesus Loeza J, Mendez A, Montalvo E, Penafiel E, Pineda E, Graetz DE. Assessment of Barriers and Enablers to Implementation of a Pediatric Early Warning System in Resource-Limited Settings. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e221547. [PMID: 35262714 PMCID: PMC8908074 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.1547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Pediatric early warning systems (PEWS) aid with early identification of clinical deterioration and improve outcomes in children with cancer hospitalized in resource-limited settings; however, there may be barriers to implementation. OBJECTIVE To evaluate stakeholder-reported barriers and enablers to PEWS implementation in resource-limited hospitals. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this qualitative study, semistructured stakeholder interviews were conducted at 5 resource-limited pediatric oncology centers in 4 countries in Latin America. Hospitals participating in a multicenter collaborative to implement PEWS were purposefully sampled based on time required for implementation (fast vs slow), and stakeholders interviewed included physicians, nurses, and administrators, involved in PEWS implementation. An interview guide was developed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Interviews were conducted virtually in Spanish, audiorecorded, and professionally transcribed and translated into English. A codebook was developed a priori using the CFIR and supplemented with codes inductively derived from transcript review. Two coders independently analyzed all transcripts, achieving a κ of 0.8 to 0.9. The study was conducted from June 1 to August 31, 2020. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Thematic analysis was conducted based on CFIR domains (inner setting, characteristics of individuals, outer setting, intervention characteristics, and implementation process) to identify barriers and enablers to PEWS implementation. RESULTS Seventy-one staff involved in PEWS implementation were interviewed, including 32 physicians (45%), 32 nurses (45%), and 7 administrators (10%). Of these, 50 were women (70%). Components of the 5 CFIR domains were mentioned by participants as barriers and enablers to PEWS implementation at both fast- and slow-implementing centers. Participants emphasized barriers at the level of the clinical staff, hospital, external factors, and PEWS intervention. These barriers included staff resistance to change, inadequate resources, components of health systems, and the perceived origin and complexity of PEWS. At all centers, most barriers were successfully converted to enablers during the implementation process through targeted strategies, such as early stakeholder engagement and adaptation, including adapting PEWS to better fit the local context and changing the hospital setting to support ongoing use of PEWS. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE To date, this is the first multicenter, multinational study describing barriers and enablers to PEWS implementation in resource-limited settings. Findings suggest that many barriers are not immutable and can be converted to enablers during the implementation process. This work can serve as a guide for clinicians looking to implement evidence-based interventions to reduce global disparities in patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asya Agulnik
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine and Division of Critical Care, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Gia Ferrara
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Maria Puerto-Torres
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | | | - Paul Elish
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Hilmarie Muniz-Talavera
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Alejandra Gonzalez-Ruiz
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Miriam Armenta
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hospital General de Tijuana, Tijuana, México
| | - Camila Barra
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hospital Dr Luis Calvo Mackenna, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rosdali Diaz
- Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas, Lima, Perú
| | - Cinthia Hernandez
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hospital Infantil Teletón de Oncología, Querétaro, México
| | | | - Jose de Jesus Loeza
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hospital Centro Estatal de Cancerología, Xalapa, México
| | - Alejandra Mendez
- Department of Pediatric Critical Care, Unidad Nacional de Oncología Pediátrica, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Erika Montalvo
- Department of Pediatric Critical Care, Hospital Oncológico Solca Núcleo de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Eulalia Penafiel
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Instituto del Cáncer SOLCA Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Estuardo Pineda
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hospital Nacional de Niños Benjamín Bloom, San Salvador, El Salvador
| | - Dylan E. Graetz
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
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Agulnik A, Schmidt-Grimminger G, Ferrara G, Puerto-Torres M, Gillipelli SR, Elish P, Muniz-Talavera H, Gonzalez-Ruiz A, Armenta M, Barra C, Diaz-Coronado R, Hernandez C, Juarez S, Loeza JDJ, Mendez A, Montalvo E, Penafiel E, Pineda E, Graetz DE, McKay V. Challenges to sustainability of pediatric early warning systems (PEWS) in low-resource hospitals in Latin America. Front Health Serv 2022; 2:1004805. [PMID: 36925775 PMCID: PMC10012640 DOI: 10.3389/frhs.2022.1004805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Background Sustainability, or continued use of evidence-based interventions for long-term patient benefit, is the least studied aspect of implementation science. In this study, we evaluate sustainability of a Pediatric Early Warning System (PEWS), an evidence-based intervention to improve early identification of clinical deterioration in hospitalized children, in low-resource settings using the Clinical Capacity for Sustainability Framework (CCS). Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of a qualitative study to identify barriers and enablers to PEWS implementation. Semi-structured interviews with PEWS implementation leaders and hospital directors at 5 Latin American pediatric oncology centers sustaining PEWS were conducted virtually in Spanish from June to August 2020. Interviews were recorded, professionally transcribed, and translated into English. Exploratory thematic content analysis yielded staff perceptions on PEWS sustainability. Coded segments were analyzed to identify participant perception about the current state and importance of sustaining PEWS, as well as sustainability successes and challenges. Identified sustainability determinants were mapped to the CCS to evaluate its applicability. Results We interviewed 71 staff including physicians (45%), nurses (45%), and administrators (10%). Participants emphasized the importance of sustaining PEWS for continued patient benefits. Identified sustainability determinants included supportive leadership encouraging ongoing interest in PEWS, beneficial patient outcomes enhancing perceived value of PEWS, integrating PEWS into the routine of patient care, ongoing staff turnover creating training challenges, adequate material resources to promote PEWS use, and the COVID-19 pandemic. While most identified factors mapped to the CCS, COVID-19 emerged as an additional external sustainability challenge. Together, these challenges resulted in multiple impacts on PEWS sustainment, ranging from a small reduction in PEWS quality to complete disruption of PEWS use and subsequent loss of benefits to patients. Participants described several innovative strategies to address identified challenges and promote PEWS sustainability. Conclusion This study describes clinician perspectives on sustainable implementation of evidence-based interventions in low-resource settings, including sustainability determinants and potential sustainability strategies. Identified factors mapped well to the CCS, however, external factors, such as the COVID pandemic, may additionally impact sustainability. This work highlights an urgent need for theoretically-driven, empirically-informed strategies to support sustainable implementation of evidence-based interventions in settings of all resource-levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asya Agulnik
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | | | - Gia Ferrara
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Maria Puerto-Torres
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | | | - Paul Elish
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Hilmarie Muniz-Talavera
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Alejandra Gonzalez-Ruiz
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Miriam Armenta
- Pediatric Oncology, Hospital General de Tijuana, Tijuana, Mexico
| | - Camila Barra
- Pediatric Oncology, Hospital Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Cinthia Hernandez
- Pediatric Oncology, Hospital Infantil Teletón de Oncología, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Susana Juarez
- Pediatrics, Hospital Central Dr. Ignacio Morones Prieto, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | | | - Alejandra Mendez
- Pediatric Critical Care, Unidad Nacional de Oncología Pediátrica, Guatemala City, Guatemala
| | - Erika Montalvo
- Pediatric Critical Care, Hospital Oncológico Solca Núcleo de Quito, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Eulalia Penafiel
- Pediatric Oncology, Instituto del Cáncer SOLCA Cuenca, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Estuardo Pineda
- Pediatric Oncology, Hospital Nacional de Niños Benjamín Bloom, San Salvador, El Salvador
| | - Dylan E Graetz
- Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Virginia McKay
- Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
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