Increasing Realism and Variety of Virtual Patient Dialogues for Prenatal Counseling Education Through a Novel Application of ChatGPT: Exploratory Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: Using virtual patients, facilitated by natural language processing, provides a valuable educational experience for learners. Generating a large, varied sample of realistic and appropriate responses for virtual patients is challenging. Artificial intelligence (AI) programs can be a viable source for these responses, but their utility for this purpose has not been explored. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we explored the effectiveness of generative AI (ChatGPT) in developing realistic virtual standardized patient dialogues to teach prenatal counseling skills. METHODS: ChatGPT was prompted to generate a list of common areas of concern and questions that families expecting preterm delivery at 24 weeks gestation might ask during prenatal counseling. ChatGPT was then prompted to generate 2 role-plays with dialogues between a parent expecting a potential preterm delivery at 24 weeks and their counseling physician using each of the example questions. The prompt was repeated for 2 unique role-plays: one parent was characterized as anxious and the other as having low trust in the medical system. Role-play scripts were exported verbatim and independently reviewed by 2 neonatologists with experience in prenatal counseling, using a scale of 1-5 on realism, appropriateness, and utility for virtual standardized patient responses. RESULTS: ChatGPT generated 7 areas of concern, with 35 example questions used to generate role-plays. The 35 role-play transcripts generated 176 unique parent responses (median 5, IQR 4-6, per role-play) with 268 unique sentences. Expert review identified 117 (65%) of the 176 responses as indicating an emotion, either directly or indirectly. Approximately half (98/176, 56%) of the responses had 2 or more sentences, and half (88/176, 50%) included at least 1 question. More than half (104/176, 58%) of the responses from role-played parent characters described a feeling, such as being scared, worried, or concerned. The role-plays of parents with low trust in the medical system generated many unique sentences (n=50). Most of the sentences in the responses were found to be reasonably realistic (214/268, 80%), appropriate for variable prenatal counseling conversation paths (233/268, 87%), and usable without more than a minimal modification in a virtual patient program (169/268, 63%). CONCLUSIONS: Generative AI programs, such as ChatGPT, may provide a viable source of training materials to expand virtual patient programs, with careful attention to the concerns and questions of patients and families. Given the potential for unrealistic or inappropriate statements and questions, an expert should review AI chat outputs before deploying them in an educational program.

Buy-in and breakthroughs: the Overton window in neonatology for the resuscitation of extremely preterm infants.

To understand the future of neonatology, it is important to reflect upon the past and the factors that lead to significant advances in the field. In this article, we explore the evolving landscape of neonatology and the shifting practices in the resuscitation of extremely premature infants, with a particular focus on societal influences that have driven these changes. Using the political policy concept of an Overton Window, we explore how breakthroughs move from unthinkable to acceptable practice and how the increasing involvement of parents and their advocacy efforts have played a pivotal role in that progress. In the era of expanded shared decision making, it is crucial that we apply that same approach to setting priorities in our field, acknowledging the crucial perspectives of both parents and former premature infants in shaping the future of neonatology.

What Information Do Clinicians Deem Important for Counseling Parents Facing Extremely Early Deliveries?: Results from an Online Survey.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to better understand how neonatology and maternal fetal medicine (MFM) physicians convey information during antenatal counseling that requires facilitating shared decision-making with parents facing options of resuscitation versus comfort care after extremely early delivery STUDY DESIGN: Attending physicians at US centers with both Neo and MFM fellowships were invited to answer an original online survey about antenatal counseling for extremely early newborns. The survey assessed information conveyed, processes for facilitating shared decision-making (reported separately), and clinical experiences. Neonatology and MFM responses were compared. Multivariable logistic regression analyzed topics often and seldom discussed by specialty groups with respect to respondents' clinical experience and resuscitation option preferences at different gestational weeks. RESULTS: In total, 74 MFM and 167 neonatologists representing 94% of the 81 centers surveyed responded. Grouped by specialty, respondents were similar in counseling experience and distribution of allowing choices between resuscitation and no resuscitation for delivery at specific weeks of gestational ages. MFM versus neonatology reported similar rates of discussing long-term health and developmental concerns and differed in all other categories of topics. Neonatologists were less likely than MFM to discuss caregiver impacts (odds ratio [OR]: 0.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.11-0.18, p < 0.001) and comfort care details (OR: 0.19, 95% CI: 0.15-0.25, p < 0.001). Conversely, neonatology versus MFM respondents more frequently reported "usually" discussing topics pertaining to parenting in the NICU (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.2-1.8, p < 0.001) and those regarding stabilizing interventions in the delivery room (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.4-2.2, p < 0.001). Compared with less-experienced respondents, those with 17 years' or more of clinical experience had greater likelihood in both specialties to say they "usually" discussed otherwise infrequently reported topics pertaining to caregiver impacts. CONCLUSION: Parents require information to make difficult decisions for their extremely early newborns. Our findings endorse the value of co-consultation by MFM and neonatology clinicians and of trainee education on antenatal consultation education to support these families. KEY POINTS: · Neonatology versus MFM counselors provide complementary information.. · More experience was linked to discussing some topics.. · Co-consultation and trainee education is supported.. · What information parents value requires study..

Battlefield Triage and Resource Allocation during a Pandemic: Learning from the Past and Adapting for the Future.

The principle of medical triage, where patients are sorted into categories to guide the order in which they receive treatment, dates back to Baron Dominique Jean Larrey, the surgeon general of Napolean's armies. The concept evolved with military conflicts throughout the 19th century, was subsequently adapted to situations off the battlefield, and is now widely practiced where resources are limited.2 Military medical providers are taught triage principles early in their careers and its use is routinely integrated into military training scenarios and operational planning.

Decision-Making for Extremely Preterm Infants: A Qualitative Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: To synthesize and describe important elements of decision-making during antenatal consultation for threatened preterm delivery at the margin of gestational viability. STUDY DESIGN: Data sources including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CINAHL Plus were searched. We included all qualitative literature published on decision-making from 1990 to July 2021. Two authors independently screened and evaluated each study using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist; studies reaching moderate and high quality were included. We developed an extraction tool to collect and categorize data from each qualitative article, then used thematic analysis to analyze and describe the findings. RESULTS: Twenty-five articles incorporating the views of 504 providers and 352 parents were included for final review. Thematic analysis revealed 4 main themes describing the experience of health care providers and parents participating in decision-making: factors that influence decision-making, information sharing, building a partnership, and making the decision. Parents and providers were not always in agreement upon which elements were most essential to the process of decision-making. Articles published in languages other than English were excluded. CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative literature highlighting key factors which are important during antenatal counseling can inform and guide providers through the process of shared decision-making. Communicating clear, honest, and balanced information; avoiding artificially dichotomized options; and focusing on partnership building with families will help providers use the antenatal consultation to reach personalized decisions for each infant.

How do Clinicians View the Process of Shared Decision-Making with Parents Facing Extremely Early Deliveries? Results from an Online Survey.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to better understand how neonatology (Neo) and maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) physicians approach the process of shared decision-making (SDM) with parents facing extremely premature (<25 weeks estimated gestational age) delivery during antenatal counseling. STUDY DESIGN: Attending physicians at U.S. centers with both Neo and MFM fellowships were invited to answer an original online survey about antenatal counseling for extremely early newborns. Preferences for conveying information are reported elsewhere. Here, we report clinicians' self-assessments of their ability to engage in deliberations and decision-making and perceptions of what is important to parents in the SDM process. Multivariable logistic regression analyzed respondents' views with respect to individual characteristics, such as specialty, gender, and years of clinical experience. RESULTS: In total, 74 MFMs and 167 Neos representing 94% of the 81 centers surveyed responded. Neos versus MFMs reported repeat visits with parents less often (<0.001) and agreed that parents were more likely to have made delivery room decisions before they counseled them less often (p < 0.001). Respondents reported regularly achieving most goals of SDM, with the exception of providing spiritual support. Most respondents reported that spiritual and religious views, risk to an infant's survival, and the infant's quality of life were important to parental decision-making, while a physician's own personal choice and family political views were reported as less important. While many barriers to SDM exist, respondents rated language barriers and family views that differ from those of a provider as the most difficult barriers to overcome. CONCLUSION: This study provides insights into how consultants from different specialties and demographic groups facilitate SDM, thereby informing future efforts for improving counseling and engaging in SDM with parents facing extremely early deliveries and supporting evidence-based training for these complex communication skills. KEY POINTS: · Perceptions differed by specialty and demographics.. · Parents' spiritual needs were infrequently met.. · Barriers to shared decision-making exist..

Mandating the COVID-19 Vaccine for U.S. Service Members: An Exploration of Ethical Arguments.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the globe, the advent of novel vaccines has created a possible path to prepandemic life for many. Still, many individuals, including those in the U.S. military, remain hesitant about getting vaccinated. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently granted full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine (Comirnaty). Consistent with messaging from President Biden, the Department of Defense leadership has instructed the military to prepare for mandatory vaccination. While many have praised this declaration, others have raised concerns regarding the suppression of individual service member autonomy. This commentary explains the different ethical principles relevant to individual autonomy and how they are understood in a military context and then explores the ethical arguments both for and against mandating vaccination for all U.S. service members.

Intubation Competence During Neonatal Fellowship Training.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize neonatal-perinatal medicine fellows' progression toward neonatal intubation procedural competence during fellowship training. METHODS: Multi-center cohort study of neonatal intubation encounters performed by neonatal-perinatal medicine fellows between 2014 through 2018 at North American academic centers in the National Emergency Airway Registry for Neonates. Cumulative sum analysis was used to characterize progression of individual fellows' intubation competence, defined by an 80% overall success rate within 2 intubation attempts. We employed multivariable analysis to assess the independent impact of advancing quarter of fellowship training on intubation success. RESULTS: There were 2297 intubation encounters performed by 92 fellows in 8 hospitals. Of these, 1766 (77%) were successful within 2 attempts. Of the 40 fellows assessed from the start of training, 18 (45%) achieved procedural competence, and 12 (30%) exceeded the deficiency threshold. Among fellows who achieved competence, the number of intubations to meet this threshold was variable, with an absolute range of 8 to 46 procedures. After adjusting for patient and practice characteristics, advancing quarter of training was independently associated with an increased odds of successful intubation (adjusted odds ratio: 1.10; 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.14). CONCLUSIONS: The number of neonatal intubations required to achieve procedural competence is variable, and overall intubation competence rates are modest. Although repetition leads to skill acquisition for many trainees, some learners may require adjunctive educational strategies. An individualized approach to assess trainees' progression toward intubation competence is warranted.

Associations of Stylet Use during Neonatal Intubation with Intubation Success, Adverse Events, and Severe Desaturation: A Report from NEAR4NEOS.

INTRODUCTION: Intubations are frequently performed procedures in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) and delivery rooms (DR). Unsuccessful first attempts are common as are tracheal intubation-associated events (TIAEs) and severe desaturations. Stylets are often used during intubation, but their association with intubation outcomes is unclear. OBJECTIVE: To compare intubation success, rate of relevant TIAEs, and severe desaturations in neonates intubated with and without stylets. METHODS: Tracheal intubations of neonates in the NICU or DR from 16 centers between October 2014 and December 2018, performed by neonatology or pediatric providers, were collected from the NEAR4NEOs international registry. Primary oral intubations with a laryngoscope were included in the analysis. First-attempt success, the occurrence of relevant TIAEs, and severe oxygen desaturation (≥20% saturation drop from baseline) were compared between intubations performed with versus without a stylet. Logistic regression with generalized estimate equations was used to control for covariates and clustering by sites. RESULTS: Out of 5,292 primary oral intubations, 3,877 (73%) utilized stylets. Stylet use varied considerably across the centers with a range between 0.5 and 100%. Stylet use was not associated with first-attempt intubation success, esophageal intubation, mainstem intubation, or severe desaturations after controlling for confounders. Patient size was associated with these outcomes and much more predictive of success. CONCLUSIONS: Stylet use during neonatal intubation was not associated with higher first-attempt intubation success, fewer relevant TIAEs, or less severe desaturations. These data suggest that stylets can be used based on individual preference, but stylet use may not be associated with better intubation outcomes.

Associations between family presence and neonatal intubation outcomes: a report from the National Emergency Airway Registry for Neonates: NEAR4NEOS.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the current practice of family presence during neonatal tracheal intubations (TIs) across neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and examine the association with outcomes. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of TIs performed in NICUs participating in the National Emergency Airway Registry for Neonates (NEAR4NEOS). SETTING: Thirteen academic NICUs. PATIENTS: Infants undergoing TI between October 2014 and December 2017. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Association of family presence with TI processes and outcomes including first attempt success (primary outcome), success within two attempts, adverse TI-associated events (TIAEs) and severe oxygen desaturation ≥20% from baseline. RESULTS: Of the 2570 TIs, 242 (9.4%) had family presence, which varied by site (median 3.6%, range 0%-33%; p<0.01). Family member was more often present for older infants and those with chronic respiratory failure. Fewer TIs were performed by residents when family was present (FP 10% vs no FP 18%, p=0.041). Among TIs with family presence versus without family presence, the first attempt success rate was 55% vs 49% (p=0.062), success within two attempts was 74% vs 66% (p=0.014), adverse TIAEs were 18% vs 20% (p=0.62) and severe oxygen desaturation was 49% vs 52%, (p=0.40). In multivariate analyses, there was no independent association between family presence and intubation success, adverse TIAEs or severe oxygen desaturation. CONCLUSION: Family are present in less than 10% of TIs, with variation across NICUs. Even after controlling for important patient, provider and site factors, there were no significant associations between family presence and intubation success, adverse TIAEs or severe oxygen desaturation.

Living with the Unknown: A Qualitative Study of Parental Experience of Prognostic Uncertainty in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to characterize the experience of prognostic uncertainty for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parents. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a qualitative interview study of current and former NICU parents regarding their experience with prognostic uncertainty in the NICU. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using a grounded theory methodology. RESULTS: Twenty-four parents were interviewed before achieving thematic saturation. Three phases of the parental experience of prognostic uncertainty emerged: shock, gray daze, and looking forward. These phases often, but not always, occurred sequentially. In shock, parents felt overwhelmed by uncertainty and were unable to visualize a future for their family. In gray daze, parents felt frustrated by the continued uncertainty. While accepting the possibility of a future for their family, they could not conceptualize a path by which to achieve it. In looking forward, parents accepted uncertainty as inevitable and incorporated it into their vision of the future. CONCLUSION: While each parent experienced the prognostic uncertainty in the neonatal intensive care unit in their own way, we found three common experiential phases. By understanding how a parent experiences prognostic uncertainty in these phases, providers may become better able to communicate and form therapeutic relationships with parents.

Uncertainty: An Uncomfortable Companion to Decision-making for Infants.

Although parents are typically the most appropriate decision-makers for their children, there are limits to this authority. Medical providers may be ethically obligated to seek state intervention against a parental decision if the parent places a child at significant and imminent risk of serious harm. When parents make medical decisions for their children, they assess both the projected benefits and risks of their choices for their family. These assessments are impacted by uncertainty, which is a common feature of neonatal intensive care. The relative presence or absence of uncertainty may impact perceptions of parental decisions and a medical provider's decision to seek state intervention to overrule parents. In this article, we propose a model integrating prognostic uncertainty into pediatric decision-making that may aid providers in such assessments. We will demonstrate how to apply this model to 3 neonatal cases and propose that the presence of greater uncertainty ought to permit parents greater latitude to incorporate family values into their decision-making even if these decisions are contradictory to the recommendations of the medical team.

Team Stress and Adverse Events during Neonatal Tracheal Intubations: A Report from NEAR4NEOS.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the association between team stress level and adverse tracheal intubation (TI)-associated events during neonatal intubations. STUDY DESIGN: TIs from 10 academic neonatal intensive care units were analyzed. Team stress level was rated immediately after TI using a 7-point Likert scale (1 = high stress). Associations among team stress, adverse TI-associated events, and TI characteristics were evaluated. RESULT: In this study, 208 of 2,009 TIs (10%) had high stress levels (score < 4). Oxygenation failure, hemodynamic instability, and family presence were associated with high stress level. Video laryngoscopy and premedication were associated with lower stress levels. High stress level TIs were associated with adverse TI-associated event rates (31 vs. 16%, p < 0.001), which remained significant after adjusting for potential confounders including patient, provider, and practice factors associated with high stress (odds ratio: 1.90, 96% confidence interval: 1.36-2.67, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: High team stress levels during TI were more frequently reported among TIs with adverse events.

Incidence, impact and indicators of difficult intubations in the neonatal intensive care unit: a report from the National Emergency Airway Registry for Neonates.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence, indicators and clinical impact of difficult tracheal intubations in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). DESIGN: Retrospective review of prospectively collected data on intubations performed in the NICU from the National Emergency Airway Registry for Neonates. SETTING: Ten academic NICUs. PATIENTS: Neonates intubated in the NICU at each of the sites between October 2014 and March 2017. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Difficult intubation was defined as one requiring three or more attempts by a non-resident provider. Patient (age, weight and bedside predictors of difficult intubation), practice (intubation method and medications used), provider (training level and profession) and outcome data (intubation attempts, adverse events and oxygen desaturations) were collected for each intubation. RESULTS: Out of 2009 tracheal intubations, 276 (14%) met the definition of difficult intubation. Difficult intubations were more common in neonates <32 weeks, <1500 g. The difficult intubation group had a 4.9 odds ratio (OR) for experiencing an adverse event and a 4.2 OR for severe oxygen desaturation. Bedside screening tests of difficult intubation lacked sensitivity (receiver operator curve 0.47-0.53). CONCLUSIONS: Difficult intubations are common in the NICU and are associated with adverse event and severe oxygen desaturation. Difficult intubations occur more commonly in small preterm infants. The occurrence of a difficult intubation in other neonates is hard to predict due to the lack of sensitivity of bedside screening tests.

Neonatologists' preferences regarding guidelines for periviable deliveries: do we really know what we want?

OBJECTIVE: To examine neonatology providers' preferences regarding periviability guidelines. STUDY DESIGN: An online cross-sectional survey of American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine members. RESULTS: Most of the 480 respondents desired standardized guidelines for upper (85%) and lower (87%) gestational age limits for offering resuscitation and comfort care. Standardization was most to least frequently desired at the national, institutional, and regional levels. Within scenarios involving parents' preferences conflicting with institutional guidelines, respondents chose parent-preferred options more often (66 vs. 34%). Overall, resuscitation (48%) versus comfort care (52%) were nearly equally chosen. In emergency scenarios, more versus less experienced respondents favored parent-preferred options over guidelines (55 vs. 46%, p = 0.003) and chose resuscitation over comfort care (50 vs. 36%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal providers desire age-based periviability guidelines, but do not agree on the level of standardization. Such limits may be insufficient to guide clinical practice. Policies should include processes that direct providers through fair transparent decision-making.

Recurrent bloody stools associated with visceral infantile haemangioma in a preterm twin girl.

A premature twin infant girl was transferred to a level IV neonatal intensive care unit for recurrent bloody stools, anaemia and discomfort with feeds; without radiographic evidence of necrotising enterocolitis. Additional imaging after transfer revealed a large retroperitoneal mass in the region of the pancreas compressing the inferior vena cava and abdominal aorta, raising suspicion for neuroblastoma. Abdominal exploration and biopsy unexpectedly revealed that the lesion was an infantile capillary haemangioma involving the small bowel, omentum, mesentery and pancreas. The infant was subsequently treated with propranolol, with a decrease in the size of the lesion over the first year of her life and a drastic improvement in feeding tolerance. While cutaneous infantile haemangiomas are common, visceral infantile haemangiomas are less so and may present a significant diagnostic challenge for clinicians. This interesting case demonstrates that such lesions should be considered in the differential diagnosis for unexplained gastrointestinal bleeding or abdominal symptoms in newborns.

Premedication with paralysis improves intubation success and decreases adverse events in very low birth weight infants: a prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the impact of premedication with and without a paralytic agent on the safety of tracheal intubation (TI) in infants ≤1500 g. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective observational cohort study between February 2015 and June 2017. The primary outcomes were associations between the use of different premedication regimens with number of TI attempts, TI adverse events (TIAEs), and changes in heart rate. RESULTS: Data were collected on 237 TIs. Median postmenstrual age at intubation was 28 completed weeks and weight was 953 g. Premedication with a paralytic was associated with fewer intubation attempts compared to premedication without a paralytic (p = 0.037). Premedication with a paralytic was associated with fewer TIAEs (p < 0.001) and less bradycardia compared to the other two regimens (p = 0.003) compared to premedication without a paralytic. CONCLUSIONS: Premedication with a paralytic was associated with fewer intubation attempts, fewer TIAEs, and less bradycardia. Premedication with a paralytic may improve intubation safety in VLBWs.