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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
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1 to 4 of 4 Research Studies DisplayedFlannery DD, Passarella M, Mukhopadhyay S
Early childhood antibiotic utilization for infants discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit.
The purpose of this retrospective observational study was to determine antibiotic use for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Infants in the first 3 years after birth hospital discharge. Using data for 667,541 newborns discharged from 2007-2011 from Medicaid Analytic Extract, the researchers assessed the relationships between NICU admission and antibiotic prescription. The study reported that 596,999 infants received one or more antibiotics, with a media of 4 prescriptions across 3 person-years. NICU infants (N = 81 314) received more antibiotic prescriptions compared to non-NICU infants. The study concluded that compared to non-NICU infants, antibiotic utilization in early childhood was higher among infants discharged from NICUs.
AHRQ-funded; HS027468.
Citation: Flannery DD, Passarella M, Mukhopadhyay S .
Early childhood antibiotic utilization for infants discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit.
J Perinatol 2022 Jul;42(7):953-58. doi: 10.1038/s41372-022-01380-y..
Keywords: Newborns/Infants, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Antibiotics, Medication
Nether KG, Thomas EJ, Khan A
Implementing a robust process improvement program in the neonatal intensive care unit to reduce harm.
This article describes the results of a robust process improvement (RPI) program implemented in a hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to improve processes and reduce harm. A total of 67 participants completed pretraining and post-training surveys after initiatives for improvements in central line blood stream infection handling, very low birth weight infant nutrition, and unplanned extubations. Training scores (0-10 scale) improved from an average of 4.45-7.60 for confidence in leading process improvement work, 2.36 to 7.49 for RPI knowledge, and 2.19 to 7.30 for confidence in using RPI tools.
AHRQ-funded; HS024459.
Citation: Nether KG, Thomas EJ, Khan A .
Implementing a robust process improvement program in the neonatal intensive care unit to reduce harm.
J Healthc Qual 2022 Jan-Feb;44(1):23-30. doi: 10.1097/jhq.0000000000000310..
Keywords: Newborns/Infants, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Shafer G, Singh H, Suresh G
Diagnostic errors in the neonatal intensive care unit: state of the science and new directions.
In this narrative review, the authors discuss how the concept of diagnostic errors framed as missed opportunities can be applied to the non-linear nature of diagnosis in a critical care environment such as the NICU. They then explore how the etiology of an error in diagnosis can be related to both individual cognitive factors as well as organizational and systemic factors - all of which often contribute to the error.
AHRQ-funded; HS022087.
Citation: Shafer G, Singh H, Suresh G .
Diagnostic errors in the neonatal intensive care unit: state of the science and new directions.
Semin Perinatol 2019 Dec;43(8):151175. doi: 10.1053/j.semperi.2019.08.004..
Keywords: Newborns/Infants, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Medical Errors, Adverse Events, Patient Safety
Gephart SM, Quinn MC
Relationship of necrotizing enterocolitis rates to adoption of prevention practices in US neonatal intensive care units.
Applying quality improvement methods has reduced necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in some neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) by 40% to 90%. This study was conducted to (1) examine relationships between adoption of prevention practices using the NEC-Zero adherence score and NEC rates, and (2) describe implementation strategies NICUs use to prevent NEC. The investigators concluded that broader use of evidence-based implementation strategies could bolster delivery of NEC prevention practices. The indicated that maternal lactation support is paramount.
AHRQ-funded; HS022908.
Citation: Gephart SM, Quinn MC .
Relationship of necrotizing enterocolitis rates to adoption of prevention practices in US neonatal intensive care units.
Adv Neonatal Care 2019 Aug;19(4):321-32. doi: 10.1097/anc.0000000000000592..
Keywords: Newborns/Infants, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Prevention