Parent and Clinician Views on Not Using Antibiotics for Mild Community-Acquired Pneumonia.

OBJECTIVES: Preschool-aged children with mild community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) routinely receive antibiotics even though most infections are viral. We sought to identify barriers to the implementation of a "no antibiotic" strategy for mild CAP in young children. METHODS: Qualitative study using semistructured interviews conducted in a large pediatric hospital in the United States from January 2021 to July 2021. Parents of young children diagnosed with mild CAP in the previous 3 years and clinicians practicing in outpatient settings (pediatric emergency department, community emergency department, general pediatrics offices) were included. RESULTS: Interviews were conducted with 38 respondents (18 parents, 20 clinicians). No parent heard of the no antibiotic strategy, and parents varied in their support for the approach. Degree of support related to their desire to avoid unnecessary medications, trust in clinicians, the emotional difficulty of caring for a sick child, desire for relief of suffering, willingness to accept the risk of unnecessary antibiotics, and judgment about the child's illness severity. Eleven (55%) clinicians were familiar with guidelines specifying a no antibiotic strategy. They identified challenges in not using antibiotics, including diagnostic uncertainty, consequences of undertreatment, parental expectations, follow-up concerns, and acceptance of the risks of unnecessary antibiotic treatment of many children if it means avoiding adverse outcomes for some children. CONCLUSIONS: Although both parents and clinicians expressed broad support for the judicious use of antibiotics, pneumonia presents stewardship challenges. Interventions will need to consider the emotional, social, and logistical aspects of managing pneumonia, in addition to developing techniques to improve diagnosis.

Screening for Youth Firearm Violence Exposure in Primary Care.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess a modified gun violence exposure tool at a pediatric clinic on the West Side of Chicago to identify youth at high risk of future gun violence. Methods: A modified version of the SaFETy gun violence exposure tool, studied in a community pediatric primary care setting, was implemented from June to August 2021. Patients and pediatric clinicians were surveyed after pilot. Results: Of 508 eligible patients, 341 youth (67.1%) completed the SaFETy tool. None had a SaFETy score ≥6, the threshold for immediate referral. Over a quarter (26.4%) of youth had scores of 1-5, and of those, 7.8% were referred at the clinician's discretion. Youth (n=84) participants randomly selected to complete an anonymous survey provided feedback about the SaFETY tool, reporting that the questions were easy to understand (92%). All 6 pediatric clinicians surveyed agreed that the tool helped to identify youth exposed to gun violence. Conclusions: Screening for gun violence exposure among youth is logistically feasible in the pediatric outpatient setting. A more sensitive validated tool to stratify low-/medium-risk patients in the primary care setting is needed.

Improving Diabetes Equity and Advancing Care (IDEA) to optimize team-based care at a safety-net health system for Black and Latine patients living with diabetes: study protocol for a sequential, multiple assignment, randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is the eighth leading cause of death in the USA. Inequities driven by structural racism and systemic oppression have led to racial/ethnic disparities in diabetes prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment. Diabetes-self management training (DSMT), remote glucose monitoring (RGM), and tailored support from a community health worker (CHW) have the potential to improve outcomes. This study will examine the implementation of these interventions in a safety-net healthcare setting. METHODS: Using implementation science and racial equity principles, this study aims to (1) evaluate the appropriateness; (2) measure fidelity; and (3) compare the effectiveness of varying the combination and sequence of three interventions. An exploratory aim will measure sustainability of intervention adherence and uptake. This mixed-methods trial employs a sequential, multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) design, patient focus group discussions, and staff interviews. Eligible Black/Latine patients will be recruited using patient lists extracted from the electronic medical record system. After a detailed screening process, eligible patients will be invited to attend an in-person enrollment appointment. Informed consent will be obtained and patients will be randomized to either DSMT or RGM. At 6 months, patients will complete two assessments (diabetes empowerment and diabetes-related distress), and HbA1c values will be reviewed. "Responders" will be considered those who have an HbA1c that has improved by at least one percentage point. "Responders" remain in their first assigned study arm. "Nonresponders" will be randomized to either switch study arms or be paired with a CHW. At 6 months participants will complete two assessments again, and their HbA1c will be reviewed. Twelve patient focus groups, two for each intervention paths, will be conducted along with staff interviews. DISCUSSION: This study is the first, to our knowledge, that seeks to fill critical gaps in our knowledge of optimal sequence and combinations of interventions to support diabetes management among Black and Latine patients receiving care at a safety-net hospital. By achieving the study aims, we will build the evidence for optimizing equitable diabetes management and ultimately reducing racial and ethnic healthcare disparities for patients living in disinvested urban settings. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06040463. Registered on September 7, 2023.