Paediatric Endoscopy Global Rating Scale: Development of a Quality Improvement Tool and Results of a National Pilot.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The endoscopy Global Rating Scale (GRS) is a web-based self-assessment quality improvement (QI) tool that provides a framework for service improvement. Widespread use of the GRS in adult endoscopy services in the United Kingdom (UK) has led to a demonstrable improvement in quality. The adult GRS is not directly applicable to paediatric endoscopy services. The objective of this study is to develop and pilot a paediatric endoscopy Global Rating Scale (P-GRS) as a QI tool. METHODS: Members of the British Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (BSPGHAN) Endoscopy Working Group collaborated with the Joint Advisory Group on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (JAG) to develop the P-GRS. After a period of consultation, this was piloted nationally at 9 centres and data were collected prospectively at 2 census points, May and December 2016. RESULTS: The P-GRS mirrors the adult GRS by dividing care into 4 domains and includes 19 standards with several measures that underpin the standards. Eight services completed the online P-GRS return in May 2016 and 6 in December 2016. All pilot sites identified areas that needed improvement and post-pilot reflected on the key challenges and developments. Several positive developments were reported by the pilot sites. CONCLUSIONS: The national pilot helped ensure that the P-GRS developed was relevant to the paediatric endoscopy services. The pilot demonstrated that even in the first year of engaging with this QI tool, services were starting to identify areas that needed improvement, share best practice documents, put in place QI plans, and support greater patient involvement in services.

Children and young people with inflammatory bowel disease attend less school than their healthy peers.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), can impact negatively on education and social development. Examining the impact of IBD on school/college attendance for children and young people (CYP) is vital to provide targeted support to patients, families and schools. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional survey to determine the school/college attendance rates, the reasons for absence related to IBD and facilitators or barriers to school/college attendance. In a subset of patients followed up locally, we performed a detailed review of hospital attendance data to assess healthcare burden. RESULTS: Two hundred and thirty-one questionnaires were given to CYP with IBD aged 5-17 years. Response rate was 74% (final sample 169). The median school/college attendance rate was 92.5%, significantly lower than all children in England (95.2%). 39.6% of children with IBD were persistently absent, defined nationally as missing 10% or more of school. Only five children (3%) had a 100% attendance record. Increasing age and use of monoclonal therapy were predictors of poor school attendance. Concerns about feeling unwell at school/college, access to toilets, keeping up with work and teachers' understanding of IBD are the main issues for CYP with IBD. There was a significant negative correlation between number of days in hospital and school attendance. CONCLUSION: IBD has a significant impact on school/college attendance, with hospital attendance, disease burden and school difficulties being major factors. Employing strategies to minimise healthcare burden and developing a partnership between health and education to support children with IBD will serve to facilitate school/college attendance.

Crohn's disease in adolescence: presentation and treatment.

Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel condition that affects more than 115,000 people in the UK. This article focuses on Crohn's disease in adolescents. Management of the condition in this group should address adolescent-specific characteristics and treatment goals. Key elements include optimising growth, pubertal development and social functioning, including education. The condition can affect an individual's mental and emotional wellbeing significantly, as well as their physical health. As adolescence is a time of great change, the additional burden of a chronic illness can prove difficult to manage. The authors provide information on the presentation of Crohn's disease in adolescence and insights into the particular issues encountered by this group.