Long-term Effects of an Evidence-based Guideline for Emergency Management of Pediatric Syncope
- PMID: 33134761
- PMCID: PMC7591128
- DOI: 10.1097/pq9.0000000000000361
Long-term Effects of an Evidence-based Guideline for Emergency Management of Pediatric Syncope
Abstract
Variability exists in the management of childhood syncope as clinicians balance resource utilization with the need to identify serious diseases. Limited evidence exists regarding the long-term impact of evidence-based guidelines (EBGs) on clinical practices. This study's objective was to measure long-term changes in the management of syncope after implementing a syncope EBG in a single pediatric emergency department following the redistribution of resources to facilitate compliance over time.
Methods: We included healthy patients aged 8-22 years, presenting to the pediatric emergency department with syncope between 2009 and 2017. Interrupted time series analysis compared testing rates and length of stay among the pre-EBG, short-term follow-up, and long-term follow-up periods.
Results: The study included 1,294 subjects. From the pre-EBG period to the long-term follow-up period, recommended electrocardiogram and urine pregnancy test rose significantly [level change odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 5.56 (1.73-17.91) and 3.15 (1.07-9.32), respectively]. Testing and management not recommended by the EBG decreased significantly, including complete blood count, electrolytes, point-of-care glucose, chest radiograph, and intravenous fluids [level change odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 0.19 (0.09-0.40), 0.15 (0.07-0.32), 0.38 (0.18-0.81), 0.17 (0.06-0.49), and 0.18 (0.08-0.39), respectively]. Length of stay declined significantly. No delayed diagnoses occurred.
Conclusions: Sustained improvements in syncope management persisted during long-term follow-up of the EBG despite minimal resources. The EBG was associated with increased focused evaluation and decreased low yield testing. EBGs may be useful tools to influence sustained clinical practices to promote safe, cost-effective, and high-quality care.
Copyright © 2020 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
Conflict of interest statement
The authors have no financial interest to declare in relation to the content of this article.
Figures
Similar articles
-
Implementing a guideline to improve management of syncope in the emergency department.Pediatrics. 2014 Nov;134(5):e1413-21. doi: 10.1542/peds.2013-3833. Pediatrics. 2014. PMID: 25332499
-
The development of evidence-based prehospital guidelines using a GRADE-based methodology.Prehosp Emerg Care. 2014;18 Suppl 1:3-14. doi: 10.3109/10903127.2013.844871. Epub 2013 Nov 26. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2014. PMID: 24279739
-
Implementing Prehospital Evidence-Based Guidelines: A Systematic Literature Review.Prehosp Emerg Care. 2018 Jul-Aug;22(4):511-519. doi: 10.1080/10903127.2017.1413466. Epub 2018 Jan 19. Prehosp Emerg Care. 2018. PMID: 29351495
-
Syncope evaluation in the emergency department.Curr Opin Cardiol. 2007 Jan;22(1):44-8. doi: 10.1097/HCO.0b013e32801173d7. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2007. PMID: 17143044 Review.
-
Syncope risk stratification tools vs clinical judgment: an individual patient data meta-analysis.Am J Med. 2014 Nov;127(11):1126.e13-1126.e25. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2014.05.022. Epub 2014 May 23. Am J Med. 2014. PMID: 24862309 Review.
Cited by
-
Impact of a Bronchiolitis Clinical Pathway on Management Decisions by Preferred Language.Pediatr Qual Saf. 2024 Feb 5;9(1):e714. doi: 10.1097/pq9.0000000000000714. eCollection 2024 Jan-Feb. Pediatr Qual Saf. 2024. PMID: 38322294 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Ganzeboom KS, Colman N, Reitsma JB, et al. Prevalence and triggers of syncope in medical students. Am J Cardiol. 2003; 91:1006–8, A8 - PubMed
-
- Lerman-Sagie T, Lerman P, Mukamel M, et al. A prospective evaluation of pediatric patients with syncope. Clin Pediatr (Phila). 1994; 33:67–70 - PubMed
-
- Bo I, Carano N, Agnetti A, et al. Syncope in children and adolescents: a two-year experience at the Department of Paediatrics in Parma. Acta Biomed. 2009; 80:36–41 - PubMed
-
- Massin MM, Bourguignont A, Coremans C, et al. Syncope in pediatric patients presenting to an emergency department. J Pediatr. 2004; 145:223–228 - PubMed
-
- Anderson JB, Czosek RJ, Cnota J, et al. Pediatric syncope: National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey results. J Emerg Med. 2012; 43:575–583 - PubMed
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources