The impact of early intervention psychosis services on hospitalisation experiences: a qualitative study with young people and their carers.

BACKGROUND: While a core aim of early intervention psychosis services (EIPS) is to prevent hospitalisation, many with a first episode of psychosis (FEP) will require inpatient care. We explored young people's (YP) and their carers' hospitalisation experiences prior to and during EIPS engagement and how factors across these services influenced these experiences. METHODS: Using purposive sampling, we recruited twenty-seven YP, all of whom had been involved with the hospital system at some stage, and twelve support persons (parents and partners of YP) from state and federally funded EIPS in Australia with different models of care and integration with secondary mental health care. Audio-recorded interviews were conducted face-to-face or via phone. A diverse research team (including lived experience, clinician, and academic researchers) used an inductive thematic analysis process. RESULTS: Four key themes were identified as influential in shaping participant's hospital experiences and provide ideas for an approach to care that is improved by the effective coordination of that care, and includes this care being delivered in a trauma informed manner: (1) A two-way street: EIPS affected how participants experienced hospitalisation, and vice versa; (2) It's about people: the quality and continuity of relationships participants had with staff, in hospital and at their EIPS, was central to their experience; (3) A gradual feeling of agency: participants viewed EIPS as both reducing involuntary care and supporting their self-management; and (4) Care coordination as navigation for the healthcare system: great when it works; frustrating when it breaks down. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalisation was viewed as a stressful and frequently traumatic event, but a approach to care founded on trust, transparency, and collaboration that is trauma-informed ameliorated this negative experience. Consistent EIPS care coordination was reported as essential in assisting YP and carers navigate the hospital system; conversely, discontinuity in EIPS staff and lack of integration of EIPS with hospital care undermined the positive impact of the EIPS care coordinator during hospitalisation. Care coordinator involvement as a facilitator, information provider, and collaborator in inpatient treatment decisions may improve the usefulness and meaningfulness of hospital interventions.

Comparative efficacy of family mediated intervention versus early intensive behavioural intervention on symptom domains in children with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Family Mediated Intervention (FMI) and Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention (EIBI) are found to be standard of care for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Comparison of their efficacy were assessed using ISAA as primary outcome measure. METHODS: This study was a parallel arm, open label, randomized active- controlled non-inferiority clinical trial. 50 Children diagnosed with ASD were randomized into FMI and EIBI groups. Clinical status was checked by using Indian scale for assessment of autism (ISAA), Oro- motor and sensory profile at baseline, after three and six months. RESULTS: Difference between change in mean ISAA score between FMI and EIBI group at the end of 6 months as per protocol (PP) analysis was -7.23 (CI=-18.41, 3.94), which was within pre-defined clinically relevant non-inferiority (NI) margin of - 24. FMI was found to be non-inferior to EIBI at the end of 6 months as the lower bound of 95% CI (-18.41) for ISAA score was higher than NI margin. ISAA scores were found to be statistically lower in both FMI and EIBI groups at the end point compared to baseline which indicated improvement in symptom severity. CONCLUSION: FMI was non-inferior to EIBI as therapy for children with ASD at the end of six months. Finding also indicated longer duration of treatment is required for FMI to be superior. FMI can be recommended for children with ASD in view of improved ISAA scores reported in our study. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: CTRI/2020/08/027099 (Registered with Clinical Trials Registry- India).

Early use of high-efficacy therapies in multiple sclerosis in the United States: benefits, barriers, and strategies for encouraging adoption.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is characterized by progressive neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration from disease onset that, if left untreated, can result in the accumulation of irreversible neurological disability. Early intervention with high-efficacy therapies (HETs) is increasingly recognized as the best strategy to delay or mitigate disease progression from the earliest stages of the disease and to prevent long-term neurodegeneration. Although there is growing clinical and real-world evidence supporting early HET intervention, foregoing this strategy in favor of a traditional escalation approach prioritizing lower-efficacy disease-modifying therapies remains a common approach in clinical practice. This review explores potential health care professional- and patient-related barriers to the early use of HETs in patients with MS in the United States. Barriers can include regulatory and reimbursement restrictions; knowledge gaps and long-term safety concerns among health care professionals; and various individual, cultural, and societal factors affecting patients. Potential strategies for overcoming these barriers and encouraging early HET use are proposed.

[Clinical characteristics of seizure-predominant autoimmune encephalitis and utility of anti-neuronal antibody scores for early treatment].

We analyzed 20 patients diagnosed with autoimmune neurological diseases with seizure predominance. In these patients, we examined the usefulness of Antibody Prevalence in Epilepsy and Encephalopathy (APE2) score and Antibodies Contributing to Focal Epilepsy Signs and Symptoms (ACES) score in autoimmune encephalitis (AE) for facilitating early treatment. APE2 score was positive in 19 of 20 patients. ACES score was positive in 15 of 20 patients, and 4 of 5 of the patients with negative ACES score did not have AE. Comprehensive assessment including the use of the above scores is desirable in the early stage of AE.

Using implementation science to operate as a learning health system to improve outcomes in early psychosis.

AIM: Early interventions are well understood to improve psychosis outcomes, but their successful implementation remains limited. This article introduces a three-step roadmap for advancing the implementation of evidence-based practices to operate as a learning health system, which can be applied to early interventions for psychosis and is intended for an audience that is relatively new to systematic approaches to implementation. METHODS: The roadmap is grounded in implementation science, which specializes in methods to promote routine use of evidence-based innovations. The roadmap draws on learning health system principles that call for commitment of leadership, application of evidence, examination of care experiences, and study of health outcomes. Examples are discussed for each roadmap step, emphasizing both data- and stakeholder-related considerations applicable throughout the roadmap. CONCLUSIONS: Early psychosis care is a promising topic through which to discuss the critical need to move evidence into practice. Despite remarkable advances in early psychosis interventions, population-level impact of those interventions is yet to be realized. By providing an introduction to how implementation science principles can be operationalized in a learning health system and sharing examples from early psychosis care, this article prompts inclusion of a wider audience in essential discourse on the role that implementation science can play for moving evidence into practice for other realms of psychiatric care as well. To this end, the proposed roadmap can serve as a conceptual guiding template and framework through which various psychiatric services can methodically pursue timely implementation of evidence-based interventions for higher quality care and improved outcomes.

Commentary: Early intervention for conduct problems as a child protection strategy - reflections on Nobakht et al. (2023).

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including child maltreatment and interparental aggression, are known to have far-reaching consequences for mental health across the lifespan. Emerging evidence, such as that reported by Nobakht et al. (Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2023), indicates that child conduct problems (e.g. oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder) may not only result from adversity but also contribute to it through transactional cascades that amplify risk for adversity over time. This commentary addresses some of the key implications of this evidence for translation into practice. It is argued that child conduct problems can be viewed as modifiable determinants of adversity and that the early identification and treatment of child conduct problems may allow for the early identification and reduction of risk for numerous ACEs.

Early Intervention in Psychosis and Management of First Episode Psychosis in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND AND HYPOTHESIS: People with first-episode psychosis (FEP) in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LMIC) experience delays in receiving treatment, resulting in poorer outcomes and higher mortality. There is robust evidence for effective and cost-effective early intervention in psychosis (EIP) services for FEP, but the evidence for EIP in LMIC has not been reviewed. We aim to review the evidence on early intervention for the management of FEP in LMIC. STUDY DESIGN: We searched 4 electronic databases (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL) to identify studies describing EIP services and interventions to treat FEP in LMIC published from 1980 onward. The bibliography of relevant articles was hand-searched. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. STUDY RESULTS: The search strategy produced 5074 records; we included 18 studies with 2294 participants from 6 LMIC countries. Thirteen studies (1553 participants) described different approaches for EIP. Pharmacological intervention studies (n = 4; 433 participants) found a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome among FEP receiving antipsychotics (P ≤ .005). One study found a better quality of life in patients using injectables compared to oral antipsychotics (P = .023). Among the non-pharmacological interventions (n = 3; 308 participants), SMS reminders improved treatment engagement (OR = 1.80, CI = 1.02-3.19). The methodological quality of studies evidence was relatively low. CONCLUSIONS: The limited evidence showed that EIP can be provided in LMIC with adaptations for cultural factors and limited resources. Adaptations included collaboration with traditional healers, involving nonspecialist healthcare professionals, using mobile technology, considering the optimum use of long-acting antipsychotics, and monitoring antipsychotic side effects.

Early Psychosis Intervention and Primary Care: A Mixed Methods Study of Family Physician Knowledge, Attitudes, Preferences, and Needs.

Family physicians (FPs) play an important but underappreciated role in the pathways to care for people with early psychosis. We conducted a mixed-methods study to describe the knowledge, attitudes, preferences, and needs of FPs towards the recognition and management of early psychosis. We sent a cross-sectional postal survey to a random sample of FPs in Ontario, Canada, and conducted in-depth qualitative interviews with twenty. FPs were generally aware of important early psychosis symptoms, however, there were some knowledge gaps. Among surveyed FPs, 25% were unsure of the availability of early psychosis intervention services in their region, and most (80%) would prefer to co-manage with specialists. In the qualitative interviews, FPs expressed varied comfort levels in recognizing psychosis, and that timely access to psychiatry was a main concern. Our findings suggest that FPs require better support in recognizing and managing early psychosis and facilitating connections with specialized care.

Population-based surveillance for birth defects potentially related to Zika virus infection including 3-year mortality and developmental outcomes, and Early Intervention Program service use-New York City, 2016 birth cohort.

BACKGROUND: In response to the 2015-2017 Zika virus outbreak, New York City (NYC) identified and monitored infants with birth defects potentially related to congenital Zika virus. METHODS: Administrative data matches were used to describe the birth characteristics of children born in 2016 meeting screening criteria for birth defects potentially related to congenital Zika virus infection relative to other NYC births and to monitor mortality and Early Intervention Program use through age 2. RESULTS: Among 120,367 children born in NYC in 2016, 463 met screening criteria and 155 met the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's case definition for birth defects potentially related to congenital Zika virus infection (1.3 per 1000; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-1.5). Post-neonatal deaths occurred among 7.7% of cases (12) and 5.2% of non-cases (8). Odds of referral to the Early intervention Program among children who met screening criteria were lower among children of mothers who were married (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.37-0.97) and among children not classified as cases whose mothers were born in Latin America and the Caribbean (OR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37-1.09). DISCUSSION: Prevalence of birth defects potentially related to congenital Zika virus infection was similar to that seen in other jurisdictions without local transmission. Birth defects attributable to congenital Zika virus infection may also have been present among screened children who did not meet the case definition.

Monthly engagement with EIP keyworkers was associated with a five-fold increase in the odds of engagement with psychosocial interventions.

BACKGROUND: Early intervention in psychosis (EIP) supports people who are experiencing their first episode of psychosis (FEP). A new Model of Care (MoC) for EIP services was launched in Ireland in 2019. Three EIP demonstration sites were chosen to test this MoC through a 'hub and spoke' approach. These services were a new way of organising care for people experiencing FEP, based upon a recovery model of care, and which sought to standardise care, improve access by clinically led multidisciplinary teams. This included newly created EIP keyworker roles whereby keyworkers assumed responsibilities regarding assessment, comprehensive individual care planning and coordination of care. METHODS: A mixed methods design utilising the UK Medical Research Council's process evaluation framework. Purposive sampling techniques were utilised. Descriptive analyses and logistic regression were performed to examine how increased keyworker engagement influenced the use of other psychosocial interventions within the EIP demonstration sites. Thematic analyses was used for qualitative data. RESULTS: There was a strong positive relationship between keyworker contacts and psychosocial interventions offered. Specifically, the odds of achieving at least monthly engagement with cognitive behavioural therapy for psychosis (CBTp; (5.76 (2.43-13.64), p < 0.001), and behavioural family therapy (BFT; (5.52(1.63-18.69, p < 0.006)) increased by fivefold with each additional monthly keyworker contact. For individual placement support (IPS) each additional monthly keyworker contact was associated with a three-fold increase in the odds of achieving monthly attendance with IPS (3.73 (1.64-8.48), p < 0.002). Qualitative results found that the EIP keyworker role as viewed by both service users and staff as a valuable nodal point, with a particular emphasis on care coordination and effective communication. CONCLUSIONS: This study advances the understanding of keyworker effects through qualitative evidence of keyworkers functioning as a "linchpin" to the service, while the positive response association between keyworker contacts and engagement with other services provides quantitative support for keyworkers reducing the organisational or structural barriers to service access. Given the importance of these positions, health systems should ensure that EIP programmes identify qualified and experienced staff to fill these roles, as well as allocate the appropriate funding and protected time to support keyworker engagement and impact.

An analysis of interagency collaboration: Lessons learned from Colorado's early intervention program.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to describe interagency collaboration in Part C Early Intervention (EI) programs. METHODS: Between 18 April and 9 May 2022, 48 EI service coordinators (SCs) from 14 programs in one state completed adapted versions of the Interagency Collaboration Activities Scale (IACAS) and Relational Coordination Survey (RCS). Assessing perceptions of shared structures (IACAS) and coordination quality (RCS), these combined measures summarized interagency collaboration with 11 organizations. Mean (SD) survey responses were estimated and ranked. RESULTS: Sample SCs represent a breadth of professional disciples and vary substantially in their current and desired collaborations. The quantity of SCs collaborating with organizations ranged from 0% to 98%. Nearly all (98%) reported collaborating with the school districts, few (15%) reported collaborating with insurance, and none reported collaborating with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. The majority of SCs expressed desire to increase their collaborations with most of the listed organizations. The perceived quality of collaborations varied substantially at both individual and organizational levels. When comparing SC perceptions of shared structures and coordination quality, SCs reported more favourable collaborations with school districts (IACAS rank: first and RCS rank: first) and less favourable collaborations with insurance (IACAS rank: ninth and RCS rank: seventh). Some organizations rankings varied across both scales, including pediatric primary care (IACAS rank: third and RCS rank: eighth) and hospitals (IACAS rank: sixth and RCS rank: second). Overall, SCs reported low perceived existence of shared structures while coordination quality varied by organization. Opportunities for collaborative growth were identified. DISCUSSION: Despite its importance and required implementation in EI, perceptions of interagency collaboration varied substantially within and between EI programs. There is a suggested need to increase the quantity of SCs that collaborate and identified opportunities to increase the quality of collaborations that already exist.

Evaluating skills for psychological recovery with gunshot injury survivors in a hospital-based early intervention program.

Gun violence is a serious public health problem that places surviving victims at increased risk for a variety of mental health problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Recognizing that many gunshot injury survivors lack access to mental health care in the early aftermath of a shooting, there has been growing interest in the use of early, preventive mental health interventions to help prevent long-term mental health complications like PTSD as part of routine care for survivors in acute medical settings, where initial outreach to survivors may be more successful. This study evaluates clinical outcomes associated with one such early intervention-Skills for Psychological Recovery (SPR)-provided to gunshot injury survivors as part of a hospital-based early intervention program embedded in a Level 1 trauma center in the Midwestern United States. Clinic data from 100 survivors (74.0% male, 78.0% Black/African American) who received SPR were included in the present study. Results suggest that receiving SPR in the early aftermath of a shooting is associated with statistically significant reductions in both PTSD, F(1, 26.77) = 22.49, p < .001, and depression, F(1, 29.99) = 6.49, p = .016, symptoms. Outcomes did not vary as a function of either PTSD risk status or intervention delivery method (i.e., in-person, telehealth). These findings support the effectiveness and acceptability of SPR as an early intervention for gunshot injury survivors when delivered as part of a hospital-based early intervention program. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Cuidados de enfermagem para paciente pediátrico com dermatite atópica e epidermólise bolhosa: revisão integrativa / Nursing care for pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis and epidermolysis bullosa: integrative review / Atención de enfermería a pacientes pediátricos con dermatitis atópica y epidermólisis ampollosa: revisión integrativa

A Dermatite Atópica e a Epidermólise Bolhosa são doenças crônicas que afetam a estrutura morfológica e bioquímica da pele, provocando lesões e alterações sistêmicas nos indivíduos afetados, podendo ocasionar infecções generalizadas. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar e sintetizar as contribuições das pesquisas produzidas sobre os cuidados de enfermagem para crianças com dermatite atópica ou epidermólise bolhosa. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa, cuja pergunta norteadora foi: "Quais são os cuidados de enfermagem para o paciente pediátrico com dermatite atópica ou epidermólise bolhosa?". Sua busca aconteceu nas bases de dados: Medline; CINAHL; LILACS e CUIDEN. Não houve restrição quanto ao ano de publicação e foram analisados estudos publicados nos idiomas inglês, português e espanhol. Como resultados foram incluídos 23 estudos, dois quais duas categorias foram elencadas: Assistência de Enfermagem às Crianças Portadoras de Dermatite Atópica e a Epidermólise Bolhosa e, Educação em Saúde. Evidenciou-se a necessidade de investimento em pesquisas bem delineadas sobre o tema, pois a raridade da condição, a escassez de referencial e a dificuldade em encontrar pacientes aptos para intervenções são fatores que contribuem neste cenário científico.

The Atopic Dermatitis and Epidermolysis Bullosa are chronic diseases that affect the morphological and biochemical structure of the skin, causing lesions and systemic changes in affected individuals, which can lead to generalized infections. This study aimed to evaluate and synthesize the contributions of research produced on nursing care for children with atopic dermatitis or epidermolysis bullosa. This is an integrative review, whose guiding question was: "What is the nursing care for pediatric patients with atopic dermatitis or epidermolysis bullosa?". Your search took place in the following databases: Medline; CINAHL; LILACS and CUIDEN. There was no restriction on the year of publication and studies published in English, Portuguese and Spanish were analyzed. As results, 23 studies were included, two of which two categories were listed: Nursing Care for Children with Atopic Dermatitis and Epidermolysis Bullosa and Health Education. The need for investment in well-designed research on the topic was highlighted, as the The rarity of the condition, the scarcity of references and the difficulty in finding patients suitable for interventions are factors that contribute to this scientific scenario.

La Dermatitis Atópica y la Epidermólisis Bullosa son enfermedades crónicas que afectan la estructura morfológica y bioquímica de la piel, provocando lesiones y cambios sistémicos en los individuos afectados, que pueden derivar en infecciones generalizadas. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar y sintetizar las contribuciones de las investigaciones producidas sobre los cuidados de enfermería al niño con dermatitis atópica o epidermólisis ampollosa. Se trata de una revisión integradora, cuya pregunta orientadora fue: "¿Cuál es el cuidado de enfermería al paciente pediátrico con dermatitis atópica o epidermólisis ampollosa?". Su búsqueda se realizó en las siguientes bases de datos: Medline; CINAHL; LILAS y CUIDEN. No hubo restricción en el año de publicación y se analizaron los estudios publicados en inglés, portugués y español. Como resultados se incluyeron 23 estudios, dos de los cuales se enumeraron dos categorías: Atención de Enfermería al Niño con Dermatitis Atópica y Epidermólisis Bullosa y Educación para la Salud.Se destacó la necesidad de invertir en investigaciones bien diseñadas sobre el tema, ya que la rareza de la condición, la escasez de referencias y la dificultad para encontrar pacientes aptos para las intervenciones son factores que contribuyen a este escenario científico.

Alimentación oral inmediata en pancreatitis aguda: Revisión Sistemática basada en la evidencia actual / Immediate oral feeding in acute pancreatitis: Systematic review based on current evidence / Alimentação oral imediata em pancreatite aguda: revisão sistemática com base em provas actuais

La pancreatitis aguda es una patología cuyo manejo primario abarca medidas con el fin de asegurar el reposo gastrointestinal, la presente revisión sistemática tiene como fin valorar los beneficios obtenidos tras iniciarse una dieta oral inmediata en pacientes con pancreatitis aguda. Se realizó una revisión sistemática, bajo lineamentos PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses), que incluyó ensayos clínicos controlados aleatoriza-dos, la búsqueda fue realizada en PubMed, ScienceDirect y Cochrane, se usaron los términos de búsqueda: "Acute pancreatitis", "Enteral nutrition" "Oral refeed" y "randomized controlado trial", obteniendo 393 artículos. Tras aplicar criterios de inclusión y exclusión, un total de 6 estudios se incluyeron en la revisión, se valoró: complicaciones o eventos adversos, gravedad del cuadro, requerimiento de analgesia, estancia hospitalaria, tolerancia a la dieta y gastos gene-rados, encontrando beneficios estadísticamente significativos, sobre todo en los últimos tres as-pectos. Se concluyó que la alimentación oral inmediata es segura en pacientes con pancreatitis aguda, pese a ello, es imprescindible generar más estudios multicéntricos con el fin de generar evidencia de mayor peso

Acute pancreatitis is a pathology whose primary management includes measures to ensure gastrointestinal rest. The present systematic review aims to assess the benefits obtained af-ter initiating an immediate oral diet in patients with acute pancreatitis. A systematic review was carried out, under PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Me-ta-Analyses) guidelines, which included randomized controlled clinical trials, the search was performed in PubMed, ScienceDirect and Cochrane, using the search terms: "Acute pancre-atitis", "Enteral nutrition" "Oral refeed" and "randomized controlled trial", obtaining 393 articles. After applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 6 studies were included in the review, evaluating: complications or adverse events, severity of the condition, analgesia requirement, hospital stay, tolerance to the diet and expenses generated, finding statistically significant benefits, especially in the last three aspects. It was concluded that immediate oral feeding is safe in patients with acute pancreatitis; nevertheless, it is essential to generate more multicenter studies in order to generate more weighty evidence

A pancreatite aguda é uma patologia cuja gestão primária inclui medidas para assegurar o re-pouso gastrointestinal. Esta revisão sistemática visa avaliar os benefícios obtidos após o início de uma dieta oral imediata em doentes com pancreatite aguda. Foi realizada uma revisão sis-temática segundo as directrizes do PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses),, incluindo ensaios clínicos controlados aleatórios, a pesquisa foi realizada no PubMed, ScienceDirect e Cochrane, utilizando os termos de pesquisa: "Pancreatite aguda", "Nutrição enteral", "Refeição oral" e "ensaio controlado aleatório", obtendo 393 artigos. Após a aplicação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, foi incluído um total de 6 estudos na revisão, avaliando: complicações ou eventos adversos, gravidade da condição, necessidade de analgesia, internamento hospitalar, tolerância à dieta e custos gerados, encontrando benefícios estatisti-camente significativos, especialmente nos três últimos aspectos. A alimentação oral imediata é segura em doentes com pancreatite aguda, no entanto, é essencial gerar mais estudos multicên-tricos a fim de gerar provas mais significativas

Fisioterapia respiratória em crianças com pneumonia: revisão sistemática da literatura / Chest physiotherapy in children with pneumonia: a systematic literature review / Fisioterapia respiratoria en niños con neumonía: revisión sistemática de la literatura

Objetivo: Avaliar a atuação da fisioterapia respiratória no tratamento da pneumonia em crianças. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática baseada no método Preferred Reporting Items for Sistematic Reviews and Meta-Análises (PRISMA). Neste estudo foram incluídos artigos originais relacionados com objetivo que aplicaram a fisioterapia respiratória no tratamento de crianças com pneumonia, escritos na língua portuguesa e inglesa, publicados no site da Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), nas bases de dados Literatura Latino-Americana e do caribe em ciências da saúde (LILACS), Scientific-Electronic-Library-Online (SciELO), no Physioterapia Evidence Database (PEDro) e PubMed, utilizando os descritores (pneumonia, respiratory physiotherapy, chest therapy, pediatric e child*). Resultados: Inicialmente foram identificados 273 artigos publicados e, de acordo com os critérios de inclusão, exclusão e elegibilidade, ao final cinco foram selecionados para análise qualitativa. Dos artigos selecionados para o estudo, três mostraram que fisioterapia respiratória proporcionou melhorias significativas entre os pacientes de grupo de controle e intervenção, usando técnicas e equipamentos que auxiliavam na desobstrução das vias aéreas e diminuição das internações decorrentes da pneumonia. Contudo, não houve estudos que qualificassem as intervenções fisioterapêuticas como principal recurso para o tratamento dessa doença. Conclusão: Dessa forma, conclui-se que a utilização da fisioterapia respiratória pode ser um adjuvante importante para a melhora dos quadros e funções respiratórias de crianças com pneumonia.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of respiratory physical therapy in the treatment of pneumonia in children. Methods: This is a systematic review was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method. This study included original articles related to the objective that applied respiratory physiotherapy in the treatment of children with pneumonia, written in Portuguese and English, published on the Virtual Health Library (VHL) site, in the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), Scientific-Electronic-Library-Online (SciELO), Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) and PubMed databases, using the descriptors (pneumonia, respiratory physiotherapy, chest therapy, pediatric and child*). Results: Initially 273 published articles were identified and according to the inclusion, exclusion and eligibility criteria, at the end five were selected for qualitative analysis. Of the articles selected for the study, three showed that respiratory physiotherapy provided significant improvements among control and intervention group patients using techniques and equipment that aided in airway clearance and decreased hospitalizations due to pneumonia. However, there were no studies qualifying physical therapy interventions as the main resource for the treatment of this disease. Conclusion: Therefore, we concluded that chest physiotherapy can be an important adjuvant for the improvement of respiratory function in children with pneumonia.

Objetivo: Evaluar el papel de la fisioterapia respiratoria en el tratamiento de la neumonía en niños. Métodos: Esta es una revisión sistemática basada en el método Preferred Reporting Items for Sistematic Reviews and Meta-Análises (PRISMA). Este estudio incluyó artículos originales relacionados con el objetivo de aplicar la fisioterapia respiratoria en el tratamiento de niños con neumonía, escritos en portugués e inglés, publicados en el sitio web de la Biblioteca Virtual en Salud (BVS), en las bases de datos de Literatura Latinoamericana y del Caribe en ciencias de la salud. (LILACS), Scientific-Electronic-Library-Online (SciELO), no Physioterapia Evidence Database (PEDro) e PubMed, utilizando los descriptores (pneumonia, respiratory physiotherapy, chest therapy, pediatric e child*). Resultados: Inicialmente se identificaron 273 artículos publicados y, según los criterios de inclusión, exclusión y elegibilidad, finalmente se seleccionaron cinco para el análisis cualitativo. De los artículos seleccionados para el estudio, tres mostraron que la fisioterapia respiratoria proporcionó mejoras significativas entre los pacientes de los grupos de control e intervención, utilizando técnicas y equipos que ayudaron a despejar las vías respiratorias y reducir las hospitalizaciones por neumonía. Sin embargo, no hubo estudios que calificaran las intervenciones fisioterapéuticas como principal recurso para el tratamiento de esta enfermedad. Conclusíon: Por lo tanto, se concluye que el uso de fisioterapia respiratoria puede ser un coadyuvante importante para mejorar las condiciones y funciones respiratorias de los niños con neumonía.