Agulnik A, Gonzalez Ruiz A, Muniz‐Talavera H, Carrillo AK, Cárdenas A, Puerto‐Torres MF, Garza M, Conde T, Soberanis Vasquez DJ, Méndez Aceituno A, Acuña Aguirre C, Alfonso Y, Álvarez Arellano SY, Argüello Vargas D, Batista R, Blasco Arriaga EE, Chávez Rios M, Cuencio Rodríguez ME, Fing Soto EA, Gómez‐García W, Guillén Villatoro RH, Gutiérrez Rivera MDL, Herrera Almanza M, Jimenez Antolinez YV, Juárez Tobias MS, López Facundo NA, Martínez Soria RA, Miller K, Miralda S, Morales R, Negroe Ocampo N, Osuna A, Pascual Morales C, Pérez Fermin CK, Pérez Alvarado CM, Pineda E, Andrés Portilla C, Rios López LE, Rivera J, Sagaón Olivares AS, Saguay Tacuri MC, Salas Mendoza BT, Solano Picado I, Soto Chávez V, Tejocote Romero I, Tatay D, Teixeira Costa J, Villanueva E, Villegas Pacheco M, McKay VR, Metzger ML, Friedrich P, Rodriguez‐Galindo C. Model for regional collaboration: Successful strategy to implement a pediatric early warning system in 36 pediatric oncology centers in Latin America.
Cancer 2022;
128:4004-4016. [PMID:
36161436 PMCID:
PMC9828186 DOI:
10.1002/cncr.34427]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Pediatric early warning systems (PEWS) aid in the early identification of deterioration in hospitalized children with cancer; however, they are under-used in resource-limited settings. The authors use the knowledge-to-action framework to describe the implementation strategy for Proyecto Escala de Valoracion de Alerta Temprana (EVAT), a multicenter quality-improvement collaborative, to scale-up PEWS in pediatric oncology centers in Latin America.
METHODS
Proyecto EVAT mentored participating centers through an adaptable implementation strategy to: (1) monitor clinical deterioration in children with cancer, (2) contextually adapt PEWS, (3) assess barriers to using PEWS, (4) pilot and implement PEWS, (5) monitor the use of PEWS, (6) evaluate outcomes, and (7) sustain PEWS. The implementation outcomes assessed included the quality of PEWS use, the time required for implementation, and global program impact.
RESULTS
From April 2017 to October 2021, 36 diverse Proyecto EVAT hospitals from 13 countries in Latin America collectively managing more than 4100 annual new pediatric cancer diagnoses successfully implemented PEWS. The time to complete all program phases varied among centers, averaging 7 months (range, 3-13 months) from PEWS pilot to implementation completion. All centers ultimately implemented PEWS and maintained high-quality PEWS use for up to 18 months after implementation. Across the 36 centers, more than 11,100 clinicians were trained in PEWS, and more than 41,000 pediatric hospital admissions had PEWS used in their care.
CONCLUSIONS
Evidence-based interventions like PEWS can be successfully scaled-up regionally basis using a systematic approach that includes a collaborative network, an adaptable implementation strategy, and regional mentorship. Lessons learned can guide future programs to promote the widespread adoption of effective interventions and reduce global disparities in childhood cancer outcomes.
LAY SUMMARY
Pediatric early warning systems (PEWS) are clinical tools used to identify deterioration in hospitalized children with cancer; however, implementation challenges limit their use in resource-limited settings. Proyecto EVAT is a multicenter quality-improvement collaborative to implement PEWS in 36 pediatric oncology centers in Latin America. This is the first multicenter, multinational study reporting a successful implementation strategy (Proyecto EVAT) to regionally scale-up PEWS. The lessons learned from Proyecto EVAT can inform future programs to promote the adoption of clinical interventions to globally improve childhood cancer outcomes.
Collapse