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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 3 of 3 Research Studies DisplayedCifra CL, Custer JW, Singh H
Diagnostic errors in pediatric critical care: a systematic review.
This study is a systematic review on the prevalence, impact, and contributing factors related to diagnostic errors in the PICU. A database search was done for literature up through December 2019. Using specific criteria, 396 abstracts were screened, and 17 studies were included. Fifteen of 17 studies had an observational research design. Autopsy studies showed a 10-23% rate of missed major diagnosis with 5-16% of the errors having a potential adverse impact on survival and would have changed care management. Retrospective record review studies reported varying rates of diagnostic error from 8% in a general PICU population to 12% among unexpected critical admissions. About a quarter of those patients were discussed at PICU morbidity and mortality conferences. Most misdiagnosed conditions were cardiovascular, infectious, congenital, or neurologic. System, cognitive, and both system and cognitive factors were associated with diagnostic error but there is limited information on the impact of misdiagnosis.
AHRQ-funded; HS026965.
Citation: Cifra CL, Custer JW, Singh H .
Diagnostic errors in pediatric critical care: a systematic review.
Pediatr Crit Care Med 2021 Aug;22(8):701-12. doi: 10.1097/pcc.0000000000002735..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Medical Errors, Adverse Events, Patient Safety, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Critical Care
Cifra Cifra, CL Dukes, KC Ayres, et al.
Referral communication for pediatric intensive care unit admission and the diagnosis of critically ill children: a pilot ethnography.
This pilot study’s goal was to determine the feasibility of using focused ethnography to understand the relationship between referral communication and the diagnostic process for critically ill children. Findings showed that focused ethnography in the pediatric intensive care unit is feasible to investigate relationships between clinician referral communication and the diagnostic process for critically ill children.
AHRQ-funded; HS026965.
Citation: Cifra Cifra, CL Dukes, KC Ayres, et al..
Referral communication for pediatric intensive care unit admission and the diagnosis of critically ill children: a pilot ethnography.
J Crit Care 2021 Jun;63:246-49. doi: 10.1016/j.jcrc.2020.09.011..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Communication, Critical Care, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Sick-Samuels AC, Linz M, Bergmann J
Diagnostic stewardship of endotracheal aspirate cultures in a PICU.
This study describes the development and impact of a clinical decision support algorithm to standardize the use of endotracheal aspirate cultures (EACs) from ventilated PICU patients in the evaluation of suspected ventilator-associated infections. Bacterial growth in EACs does not distinguish bacterial colonization from infection and may lead to overtreatment with antibiotics. The rate of EACs was compared pre- and postintervention. In the preintervention year there were 557 EACs over 5092 ventilator days. After introduction of the algorithm the rate went down to 234 EACs over 3654 ventilator days. There was a 41% decrease in the monthly rate of EACs. This intervention did not affect mortality, readmissions, or length of stay in ventilated PICU patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS025642.
Citation: Sick-Samuels AC, Linz M, Bergmann J .
Diagnostic stewardship of endotracheal aspirate cultures in a PICU.
Pediatrics 2021 May;147(5). doi: 10.1542/peds.2020-1634..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Clinical Decision Support (CDS), Decision Making, Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs), Diagnostic Safety and Quality