Stages of change: Strategies to promote use of a Pediatric Early Warning System in resource-limited pediatric oncology centers.

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.

The COVID-19 Pandemic's impact on sustainability and expansion of a Pediatric Early Warning System in resource-limited hospitals.

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.

Multilevel impacts of a pediatric early warning system in resource-limited pediatric oncology hospitals.

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.

Challenges to sustainability of pediatric early warning systems (PEWS) in low-resource hospitals in Latin America.

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.

Colestasis intrahepática del embarazo Un reto más para la obstetricia / Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy. One More Challenge for Obstetrics

Resumen: La colestasis intrahepática del embarazo es el trastorno hepático específico más común durante la gestación; es una condición multifactorial que aparece en mujeres genéticamente susceptibles. Se caracteriza principalmente por prurito palmo-plantar de predominio nocturno, su importancia radica en su considerable morbimortalidad fetal y aunque su tratamiento es sencillo, se debe diagnosticar. Objetivo: Realizar una revisión actualizada y a detalle de la bibliografía nacional e internacional de la etiología, las pruebas diagnósticas, tratamiento, resultados perinatales y su asociación con otras patologías del embarazo. Metodología: Se realizó una búsqueda de la literatura publicada en inglés y en español en bases de datos como PubMed / MEDLINE, Ovid, MD Consult, entre otras, utilizando las palabras clave: colestasis intrahepática del embarazo, etiología, diagnóstico, tratamiento, efectos adversos perinatales, preeclampsia, embarazo múltiple. De la información obtenida se seleccionaron 64 artículos, los cuales fueron clasificados y utilizados como soporte para realizar esta revisión. Resultados: Se aporta una actualización en cuanto al diagnóstico y tratamiento de esta enfermedad para actuar como guía clínica a los profesionales de la salud. Conclusión: Esta enfermedad es una entidad importante de diagnosticar para evitar los efectos adversos fetales que implica, la principal limitación es la carencia de determinación de niveles de ácidos biliares séricos en nuestro país, por lo tanto, la sospecha clínica se convierte en la herramienta más factible para su diagnóstico e inicio oportuno de tratamiento.

Abstract: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is the most common specific liver disorder during pregnancy, it is a multifactorial condition that appears in genetically susceptible women and it is mainly characterized by palmoplantar itching predominantly at night. Its importance lies in the considerable fetal morbidity and mortality. Although the treatment is simple, we must know how to make the diagnosis. Objective: To carry out an updated and detailed review of the national and international bibliography of etiology, diagnostic tests, treatment, perinatal results, and their association with other pregnancy pathologies. Methodology: A search of the literature published in English and Spanish was conducted in databases such as PubMed / MEDLINE, Ovid, MD Consult, and others, using the keywords: intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, etiology, diagnosis, treatment, perinatal adverse effects, preeclampsia, tween pregnancy. 64 articles were selected from the obtained, which were classified and used as support to carry out this review. Results: An update regarding the diagnosis and treatment of this disease is provided, to act as a clinical guide for healthcare professionals. Conclusion: This disease is an important entity to diagnose in order to avoid the fetal adverse effects that implies. The main limitation is the lack of determination of serum bile acid levels in our country, therefore, clinical suspicion becomes the most useful tool for diagnosis and early treatment.